Spleen Cystic Echinococcosis: Clinical Manifestations and Treatment

Abstract

Aim: 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. Conclusion: 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.

Key Words::

• Echinococcus granulosus
• Spleen
• Diagnosis
• Surgical approach

Declaration of interest: We, the undersigned authors, transfer all copyright ownership of the manuscript referenced above (Spleen cystic echinococcosis- the clinical manifestations and treatment) to the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, in the event the work is published. We warrant that the article is original, does not infringe upon any copyright or other proprietary right of any third party, is not under consideration by another journal, and has not been published previously in any form, including symposia and proceeding of meeting. We have reviewed and approve the submitted version of the manuscript and agree to its publication in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. We state that there is no conflict of interest, including financial and other relationship. All authors gave their individual contributions to this article: Đorđe M. Ćulafić, Mirko D. Kerkez, Dragana D. Mijač, Nebojša S. Lekić, Vitomir I. Ranković, Dragana D. Lekić, Zoran Lj. Đorđević.

We confirm that we have read and approve this paper.