SKIN LOCALIZATION OF ALVEOLAR ECHINOCOCCOSIS OF THE LIVER

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by the intr ahepatic growth of Echinococcus multilocularis larvae. Secondary local izations can be observed; pulmonary metastases are the most frequent a nd are observed in 22% of patients. Other extrahepatic localizations a n less frequent. We describe two patients with abdominal skin involvem ent. To our knowledge, this has never before been reported. In both pa tients, the liver lesion was located in the left lobe, and larvae prob ably spread to the skin via the falciform ligament. In one patient alb endazole therapy was effective.