title: [Treatment of alveolar echinococcosis: a multidisciplinary task].
abstract: Alveolar echinococcosis is characterized by a long asymptomatic period but, without treatment, up to 80% of patients may die within ten years of diagnosis. Owing to a lack of fast-acting and fully effective chemotherapy, partial radical hepatic resection is the only chance of cure. One-third of patients are now treated in this way, and complex vascular and biliary reconstruction procedures are sometimes necessary. Liver transplantation may also be indicated for highly selected patients (about 5%) with life-threatening complications after failure of other treatments. Interventional radiology and endoscopy can be used to drain liver abscesses and/or infected and obstructed bile ducts, either as palliative procedures or as a bridge to radical resection. Parasitostatic benzimidazole therapy, especially based on continuous albendazole administration, is mandatory for at least two years after radical resection, and for life in inoperable patients.
authors.affiliation: Centre Collaborateur OMS pour la prévention et le traitement des échinococcoses humaines, CHU Besançon.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mantion
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bresson-Hadni
authors.forename: Dominique-Angèle
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Vuitton
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chapuis
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gillet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000601:surgery; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010348:Patient Care Team
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents