HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tappe, D. Articles by Stich, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tappe, D. Articles by Stich, A. Agricola Articles by Tappe, D. Articles by Stich, A.

Brain and lung metastasis of alveolar echinococcosis in a refugee from a hyperendemic area

¹ German Consiliary Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany

² Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Mission Hospital, Salvatorstrasse 7, 97067 Würzburg, Germany

³ Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Josef-Scheider-Strasse 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany

Correspondence
Dennis Tappe
dtappe{at}hygiene.uni-wuerzburg.de

Received April 23, 2008
Accepted June 12, 2008

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) of the liver with cerebral and pulmonary metastasis was diagnosed in a Tibetan monk who initially presented with severe headache to an emergency department in Germany. Multiple lesions with perifocal oedema and severe compression of the third ventricle were seen with computed tomography (CT) of the brain. Glioma or cerebral metastasis of a hitherto undiagnosed abdominal or pulmonary malignancy was suspected. CT scans of the lung and liver demonstrated further tumorous masses. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed the cystic nature of the cerebral lesions and the patient had a highly positive serology for AE. The echinococcal aetiology of the brain lesions was confirmed by PCR for this refugee from an area where two disease entities, AE and cystic echinococcosis, are hyperendemic.

Abbreviations: AE, alveolar echinococcosis; CE, cystic echinococcosis; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; CT, computed tomography; EVD, external ventricular drain; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PET, positron-emission tomography.