Alveolar echinococcosis in the head of pancreas: A case report

RATIONALE: Pancreatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an exceptionally rare disease; no more than 10 cases have been published to date. It is characterized as extensive local tissue infringement and destruction; thus, extended surgical resection, such as duodenopancreatectomy, is often needed to obtain a negative resection margin so as to improve the long-term outcome and prognosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: A middle-aged Tibetan man was admitted due to a 16-year history of recurrent pain in the right upper abdomen. Magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a cystic lesion in the VI segment of his liver and several cystic lesions in the head of pancreas. DIAGNOSES: Pancreatic AE. INTERVENTIONS: The patient adopted a preserved surgery of partial cystectomy and completely removing the content of the cyst and then soaking by hypertonic saline combined with adjuvant medical therapy of albendazole. OUTCOMES: The patient was monitored on a regular basis at the outpatient department; the patient is still alive and has already survived 8 years till now. LESSONS: A preserved surgery combined with adjuvant medical therapy of albendazole can also contribute to a good survival outcome for AE located at the head of pancreas.