Obstructive jaundice caused by rupture of cystic echinococcosis into the biliary tract

Obstructive jaundice caused by a parasitosis is very rare. It can be a comp lication of a cystic echinococcosis. We present the case of a 33-year-old m an who suffered from cystic echinococcosis with an affection of the liver f or several years. As a complication an echinococcal cyst had ruptured into the biliary tract and had led to an occlusion of the ductus hepatocholedoch us. By means of ERCP the membrane of the echinococcal liver cyst was extrac ted in toto. Cholangioscopy followed and showed a free biliary tract withou t remaining cyst fragments. After these interventions the blood parameters normalized and the patient recovered. An additive chemotherapy with albenda zole was started.