title: Cystic echinococcosis in a single tertiary care center in Rome, Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic, clinically complex, and neglected disease. Its prevalence in Italy, a country of medium to high endemicity, remains poorly defined, as notification has long ceased to be mandatory.
  
  
  METHODS
  We set up a retrospective cohort study involving all CE patients followed at our institute between January 2005 and December 2012. Demographical and clinical features were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CE was found in 28 patients (64.3%), mostly Italians from the central regions (50%), followed by subjects from the islands (33.3%) and Southern Italy (16.7%). Their median age was 45 years (IQR: 38.5-66.5), with Eastern Europeans being significantly younger (28 years, IQR: 19-39) than other patients (P ≤ 0.0001). A total of 149 cysts, mostly with hepatic localization (96%), were described. Based on the WHO classification, the cysts were mainly small (80.5%) and active (CE1 (73.8%); CE2 (7.4%)). Active cysts were more common in Eastern Europeans (85.7%) than Italians (66.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data confirm CE occurrence in Italy. We emphasize the importance to have a national CE registry, opportunely recently introduced. This is essential to assess CE prevalence in this country, implement appropriate control measures, and improve patient management.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, "L. Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI), IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrone
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuzzi
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colace
authors.forename: Giuseppe Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ettorre
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Busi-Rizzi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schininà
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pucillo
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Caro
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bordi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozio
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corpolongo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teggi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goletti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers