DIAGNOSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF HEPATIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Objective To make an early and correct diagnosis of hepatic echinococc osis. Methods A fetal of 1092 patients with hepatic echinococcosis und erwent operation in our hospital between 1984 and 1995. Of these patie nts, 427 (39.1%) were cases with complications, including secondary in fection, rupture, obstructive jaundice, anaphylactic shock, disseminat ed implantation with resultant multiple echinococcosis and portal hype rtension. The ultrasonic examination has been generally used in clinic al practice for comprehensive evaluation which can dectedct the preope rative diagnostic accuracy rate. Results B-mode ultrasonography can be used not only to detect the location, dimension and pathological char acteristics of hydatid cyst but also to show the pathological changes of various complications caused by echinococcosis. Seven patterns spec ific ultrasonic scanning images were revealed. In this series the diag nostic accuracy rate reached 98.8%. Conclusions Ultrasonic examination is harmless to human body, and has been widely used in combination wi th immunological tests in clinical and epidemiological studies to dete ct the asymptomatic parasite carriers in early stage and to improve th e preoperative diagnostic accuracy rate.