Surgical treatment of alveolar echinococcosis: a single centre experience and systematic review of the literature

Overview

Introduction: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. AE is primarily localised in the liver. Echinococcus multilocularis imitates tumour-like behaviour. It can metastasise through blood or lymphatic system to distant organs. Echinococcosis often remains asymptomatic due to its long incubation period and indistinct symptoms. Clinical symptoms are determined by the parasite’s location. Diagnosis of echinococcosis is based on medical history, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, serology results, imaging methods and final histology findings. Surgical removal of the cyst with a safety margin, followed by chemotherapy is the therapeutic method of choice.

Case report: We present a case report of alveolar echinococcosis in a thirty-year-old female patient in whom we surgically removed multiple liver foci of alveolar echinococcosis. The disease recurred after two years and required another surgical intervention.

Conclusions: Alveolar echinococcosis is a disease with a high potential for a complete cure provided that it is diagnosed early and that the recommended therapeutic procedures are strictly adhered to.

Keywords:

Echinococcus granulosus – Echinococcus multilocularis – liver cyst – hydatid – alveolar echinococcosis

Introduction

Echinococcosis is a cosmopolitan zoonosis caused by tapeworms of the Echinococcus genus. Humans are infected when eggs of the parasite are ingested. The eggs are released in the stool of carnivores (dogs, foxes, etc.) in whose intestines sexually mature parasites reside.

Larvae (metacestodes) of all known Echinococcus spp. cause various forms of infections.

The following forms are most clinically significant:

Cystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease, CE) – the disease develops cysts (hydatid cysts) that are clearly separated from the surrounding tissue. Hydatid disease is caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. The cysts are most commonly located in liver and lungs.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) – presents unclearly delimited foci (alveolococcus) located in liver (in 99% of cases). AE is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis and its incidence has been so far constrained to the northern hemisphere.

Polycystic echinococcosis – presents multiple foci predominantly in liver. This disease is caused by Echinococcus vogeli and Echinococcus oligharthrus and it is known from South America.

Very slow growth of the larval stage is typical for all forms of this disease. This slow growth is the reason for the long incubation period and asymptomatic course at the onset of the disease.

The incubation period of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is estimated as 5−15 years but incubation periods of 30 years are no exception. The most frequent location of the alveolar echinococcosis is primarily in the right liver lobe [1]. Extrahepatic location is rare [2]. The parasite does not form a solitary cyst; due to its exogenous gemmation it penetrates into the surrounding tissue. It presents tumour-like features and can form metastases in distant organs through the blood and lymphatic system. Chronic stage of the infection affects surrounding as well as distant organs [3,4]. Untreated alveolar echinococcosis is lethal [1].

Diagnosis of echinococcosis is based on clinical data, laboratory tests and medical history. Imaging me­thods demonstrate foci with irregular margins and possible necrosis and calcifications located in the centre. Histological examination of tissue biopsy establishes parasite clusters surrounded by a laminar membrane. Suspicion of AE is expressed based on imaging me­thods (USG, CT, MRI, PET CT) or serology tests (ELISA, Western blot). The final diagnosis is concluded either by positive results of both examination methods or by positive results of one the above presented method together with confirmed histopathological or mole­cular tests (PCR).

Conditions including cystic echinococcosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, amoebic liver abscess or haemangioma must be excluded before the treatment is initiated.

Treatment indications are based on features of the larval stage, experience of the medical team, material equipment and general condition of the patient. Surgical removal of alveolar echinococcosis [5,6] accompanied by subsequent chemotherapy with albendazole is the method of choice with a potential for a complete cure.

Human AE has been diagnosed in the Czech Republic since 2007 [3]. The total of 27 patients were diagnosed until 2015 and all patients suffered from an advanced stage of chronic disease [7]. As alveolar echinococcosis is not considered in the course of primary examinations, we present a liver disease case in one thirty-year-old female patient in whom we performed radical resection of the foci.

Case report

The thirty-year-old female patient from Central Europe, living the Czech Republic for more than 10 years started to experience pressure in the epigastrium when pregnant in 2012. She aborted in the 6^th week of pregnancy. She was examined by a gastroenterologist who detected tough resistance in the epigastrium and hepatomegaly (liver exceeded the costal arch structure by 4 cm). Following CT scans demonstrated multiple bulky lobed foci with central calcifications and necrosis in both liver lobes. The mass in the right liver lobe was 80 mm in diameter and the mass in the left liver lobe was 110 mm in diameter. Two additional smaller lesions were detected in the 7^th segment.

MRI (Fig. 1) and PET/CT (Fig. 2) scans showed alveolar echinococcosis at the end of May 2013. Subsequent serology tests using ELISA (IgG) technique repeatedly confirmed anti-E. multilocularis, anti-E. granulosus and anti-Taenia solium antibodies. Western blot test detected specific anti-E. multilocularis antibodies. The final diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis was established based on these test results.

The patient was treated with the antihelminthic agent mebendazole (Wermox) dosed 300 mg bid from May until June 2013. Albendazole (Zentel) dosed 400 mg bid was administered from June until August 2013. Mild elevation of GGT levels occurred after initiation of the therapy. Surgical intervention was indicated due to the risk of exogenous spread of the infection.

The surgical procedure was performed in August 2013. In the course of surgery a structure 100 mm in diameter was detected in the left liver lobe (Fig. 3), structures sized 40 a 60 mm in diameter were found in segments VI and VII, and a structure sized 50 mm in dia­meter in segment VIII. Non-anatomical resection was performed (Figs. 4, 5) with preservation of segments I and IV in the left lobe and of segment V and portions of segments VI and VII in the right liver lobe. The residual liver volume was found to be sufficient. Initial Pugh-Child score A – 5 points (Tab. 1). The patient was transferred for further care to an infectiologist on the 17^th postoperative day.

Albendazole was subsequently administered at dose 400 mg bid for six months. Control PET/CT scan (Fig. 6) demonstrated a lesion in liver after two years. Recurrence of the echinococcus cyst was established. Surgical intervention was performed after prior administration of albendazole with resection of the lesion at the border of segments V and VI with a safety margin (Fig. 7). Given that the lesion was in close contact with liver hilum only limited resection of the liver parenchyma was conducted. Histology of tissue biopsy established recurrence of alveolar echinococcosis. The patient is currently free of any complaints and has been taking albendazole 400 mg bid.

Disease was staged as P1N0M0 (Tab. 2) according to the International Classification of Diseases [1].

Discussion

Alveolar echinococcosis is a fairly rare disease in our region. Only two cases were presented in the last century, namely in 1928 [8] and 1979 [9]. Since 2007, 36 cases have been diagnosed [3]. The current increase in the number of infections, observed also in neighbouring countries [10,11], is related to the rising risk of infection with eggs of E. multilocularis in sylvatic as well as in urbanised regions [2].

Clinical manifestation depends on location of the cyst. Typical initial symptoms of the infection are difficult to determine due to the long incubation period of alveolar echinococcosis. The patient in our case report experienced only pressure in the epigastrium, which corresponds to literature data [2]. Apart from this symptom frequent signs include loss of appetite, abdominal pain or dyspepsia, and hepatomegaly with an abdominal tumorous mass. Up to one third of patients presents jaundice [2]. Biliary complications occur in 45% of patients [12]. Bacterial cholangitis is a significant complication of alveolar echinococcosis. Invading metacestodes cause obstruction of the biliary system resulting in chronic infection and possible secondary cirrhosis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage are recommended in case of such complications [13]. Advanced stage of the disease features liver dysfunction with portal hypertension. Liver infection features formation of tumour-like masses consisting of minute multiple cystoids aggregated by fibrotic tissue. As there is no eradication therapy but only therapy that stops the growth of the parasite, the only curative treatment consists in surgical removal of the masses like in case of malignancy. The aim of surgical resection is to completely remove the undamaged parasitic mass with a 2cm safety margin [14]. Curative surgical intervention is indicated only if complete resection of all liver foci with a safety margin is feasible and if there are no irremovable foci in other organs or extrahepatic tissues [1,14].

The possibility of radical liver resection depends on the size and number of masses as well as on the residual volume of the healthy liver parenchyma. Alveolar echinococcosis causes a slow progression of the parasitic mass and late onset of the biliary cirrhosis. Metacestodes of E. multilocularis present a unique pro-proliferative effect on the liver tissue resulting in easier hypertrophy of the unaffected liver tissue and allowing for liver resection or autotransplantation more frequently than in other patients with liver tumours [15]. However, due to long clinical latency several cases are diagnosed in advanced stages where resection cannot be performed. Thus resection is possible only in 35−40% of cases [16,17].

Due to frequent involvement of the common hepatic duct resection of the bifurcation with subsequent reconstruction of the biliary system using Roux-en-Y loop is often necessary [14]. The right hemihepatectomy is indicated, sometimes extended with resection of segments I and IV. Left hemihepatectomy is rarely indicated. If affected, resection of the diaphragm or a portion of the inferior vena cava or removal of retroduodenal and retropancreatic lymph nodes may be indicated [18].

Surgical intervention was indicated in almost every patient in the past but the curative effect was evidenced only in 30% of cases in which a complete removal of parasitic masses was achieved [19].

The aim of palliative surgery is to confirm diagnosis, drain the necrotic cavity which is often present in the centre of the mass resulting in possible bacterial infection, reduce parasitic mass and reduce the risk of biliary or vascular obstruction. Palliative resection is recommended to enhance the effect of antihelmintics [6,12]. The reasons for resection include extended liver involvement, distant metastases or direct invasion in hepatic hilum, inferior vena cava, diaphragm or retroperitoneal space [20].

Kadry et al. reported a similar rate of complications after debulking procedures, stand-alone therapy with benzimidazole (p=0.7) and more frequent progression of liver alveolar echinococcosis compared to curative resections (p=0.008). They concluded that debulking did not present any advantage in the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis [21]. Moreover, these surgical procedures could generate complications affecting the quality of life and the survival rate and result in difficulties encountered during later liver transplant [19].

There has been a tendency to substitute other palliative procedures such as billiodigestive anastomosis, external drainage and portocaval anastomosis with less invasive non-surgical interventions (endoscopic or radiologic) over the past decades. Current recommendations to avoid palliative surgical procedures and to choose percutaneous techniques come essentially from the retrospective single-centre trials in patients with alveolar echinococcosis [12,14,21,22]. As revealed by the follow-up of individual cases after percutaneous drainage, the cavities became significantly smaller despite fibrous and calcified features of their margins. This fact can lead to reconsideration of resection possibility several weeks or months after drainage [23]. Percutaneous drainage is indicated in case of infectious complications. It is a method of choice to prevent sepsis and septic shock. Thus it should be performed as soon as possible [22].

No considerable survival rate has been evidenced in case of systemic palliative therapy. Nevertheless, palliative surgery remains an option for complications that cannot be managed by conservative or interventional techniques [17].

Indications for liver transplant include otherwise insoluble and life threatening complications such as severe liver failure, end stage liver disease, chronic cholestasis, secondary biliary cirrhosis, portal hypertension with gastrointestinal bleeding, Budd-Chiari syndrome due to infiltration or compression of hepatic veins or recurrent life threatening cholangitis. Another indication for liver transplant is a situation where radical liver resection is not technically possible [1,15,16]. This situation is caused by: scary tissue around the anatomical structures (diaphragm, inferior vena cava, right atrium), dilated hepatic veins or conditions after prior palliative surgical interventions.

All the above stated conditions technically complicate possible secondary liver transplant and are moreover associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrence. Thus, it is recommended to prefer percutaneous or endoscopic approach to an open revision of the abdominal cavity in cases of infectious complications [16].

Immunosuppression and suspension of systemic administration of benzimidazole during the periope­rative period increase the risk of recurrence or progression of the extrahepatic disease. Uncertainty of a complete cure is another reason for suggesting a liver transplant, although only in patients with significantly symptomatic alveolar echinococcosis. Higher doses of albendazole seem to stabilize those forms of incurable disease in patients with asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic disease [22].

Bresson-Hadni presents five-year survival rate 71% in 47 patients and five-year disease free interval in 58% of patients after liver transplant. The frequency of prior surgical procedures or interventions was 72% and 74% in this cohort. 15 transplants were considered as pallia­tive due to non-removable residual parasite mass or known distant metastases of alveolar echinococcosis [16].

Albendazole administration is usually initiated after the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis. The recommended duration of the therapy after radical resection is 2 years [21]. Albendazole therapy is recommended prior to liver transplant to firstly assess tolerance of the drug and secondly to stabilize the disease in patients awaiting liver transplant [16,22]. Lifelong therapy or at least two-year chemotherapy (with no signs of recur-
rence) is recommended after liver transplant. This thera­py should be initiated by the end of the first month after the transplant and after stabilisation of liver function tests [16].

Conclusion

Alveolar echinococcosis is a disease which often proceeds to an inoperable stage due to its long asymptomatic course. Early diagnosis and adherence to the recommended therapeutic procedures has a high potential for a complete cure of this disease. The principle of successful treatment is based on an exact preoperative diagnosis and on exact aetiology and location of the parasite excluding the extrahepatic location. A complete preoperative diagnostic procedure was undertaken in the case of our patient. The finding was assessed as resectable. Liver lesions were completely resected. One lesion was not resected with the 2cm safety margin due to its unfavourable localisation close to hepatic hilum. Another difficulty arose during postoperative chemotherapy. The recommended two-year chemotherapy was not completed and chemotherapy was discontinued after six months because the health insurance company refused to cover the cost of treatment. All these deviations from the recommended procedures resulted in recurrence of the disease. The current medical condition of the patient is stable. The patient has been regularly followed and no signs of recurrence have been observed.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have not conflict of interest in connection with this paper and that the article has not been published in any other journal.

MUDr. Kristianová Hana

1^st Department of Surgery

General University Hospital

and the 1st MF of Charles University

U Nemocnice 499/2

128 05 Prague 2

e-mail: hana. kristianova@vfn.cz