VALUE OF ULTRASOUND IN THE DIFFERENTIAL-D IAGNOSIS OF HEPATIC PSEUDOTUMORAL HYDATID CYST AND OTHERS HEPATIC SOLID MASSES - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

A prospective study in 88 consecutive patients with solid hepatic mass was performed to determine the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis o f pseudo-tumoral hydatid cyst. Ultrasonography systematically searched 5 evocative signs: hypoechoic spiral, peripheric hypoechoic rim surro unded by an echoic border, daughter cysts, hyperechoic areas with shad owing and/or enhancement of back-wall echos. Diagnosis of pseudo-tumor al hydatid cyst was based upon the association of, at least, 2 signs. The sensitivity of echography was 92.3% and the specificity was 98.3%. Furthermore this study allow us to propose a new, more accurate, defi nition of the hydatid spiral. However, serologic tests were found to b e of little interest.