Disseminated alveolar echinococcosis mimicking a metastatic malignancy

Intern Med. 2008;47(16):1495-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.47.1228. Epub 2008 Aug 15.

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis, which is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, is a very aggressive and potentially fatal infestation which always affects the liver primarily and metastasizes to any part of the body. Imaging studies are usually highly suspicious of carcinoma or sarcoma, and biopsy may provide the first indication of infection. We report a case of disseminated alveolar echinococcosis with liver, lung, and bone involvement mimicking a metastatic malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Bone and Bones / parasitology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Echinococcus multilocularis / pathogenicity*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / parasitology*