Difficulties in diagnosing the alveolar echinococcosis (case report)

INTRODUCTION: Alveolar echinococcosis is dangerous parasitic zoonose with the large endemic area. This disease has a high prevalence in Kazakhstan. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report on a 45-year woman suffering from alveolar echinococcosis with a huge cystic mass and difficulty of differential diagnosis. She was hospitalized for surgery with primary diagnosis of hydatid disease. The liver carcinoma was suspected during surgery due to the huge size and structure of the mass. This mass was totally removed. The alveolar echinococcosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. DISCUSSION: Essential features of this case are the large size of the lesion with a dense consistency and the germination of blood vessels, which unusual for alveolar echinococcosis. Total resection and Albendazole therapy was successful for patient, she didn't have a relapse during the follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: This report may provide new aspects of visualization of alveolar echinococcosis and highlight the necessity for the upgrade of the diagnosis tactic.