title: Spleen cystic echinococcosis: clinical manifestations and treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to demonstrate clinical manifestations and diagnostic methods of splenic echinococcosis and suggest surgical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 20 patients of previously diagnosed spleen echinococcosis. A diagnosis was made for each patient, based on medical history, biochemical and serological tests, physical examination and abdominal ultrasonography. All the patients received a CT scan of the abdomen. These patients had undergone the following surgery procedures: total splenectomy 13 (60%), and spleen-preserving surgery 7 (35%) patients. Histological examination confirmed the spleen echinoccocosis in all the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonspecific left upper abdominal pain was present in 10 (50%) cases, while 5 (25%) patients presented with the right upper abdominal pain with dyspepsia and five patients (25%) were asymptomatic. Postoperative complications developed in 2/13 (15.4 %) patients who underwent total splenectomy, while there were no complications after spleen-preserving surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spleen-preserving surgery should be undertaken if possible in patients with spleen echinococcosis, and total splenectomy is reserved for the patients with large cysts located centrally or near the hilus.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Digestive Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Dr Koste Todorovica No 2, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. dculafic@eunet.yu
authors.forename: Dordde M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Culafić
authors.forename: Mirko D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kerkez
authors.forename: Dragana D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mijac
authors.forename: Nebojsa S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Lekić
authors.forename: Vitomir I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Ranković
authors.forename: Dragana D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Lekić
authors.forename: Zoran Lj
authors.initials: ZLj
authors.lastname: Dordević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult