Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
A case of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis contracted in Belgium.
- Journal:
- Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica
- Year:
- 2002
- Authors:
- Delbecque, K et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathology
Plain-English summary
This case involves a 76-year-old woman from Belgium who had a liver tumor that doctors initially thought might be a spread of breast cancer. Despite various tests, including imaging and biopsies, they couldn't determine what it was. Eventually, during surgery to remove part of her liver, they discovered that the tumor was caused by a parasite called Echinococcus multilocularis, which leads to a condition known as alveolar echinococcosis. Interestingly, the woman had not traveled outside Belgium, suggesting she contracted this infection locally. This case is significant because it appears to be the first instance of this type of infection occurring in Belgium, raising concerns about potential public health risks related to this parasite.
Abstract
We report herein the case of a Belgian 76-year-old woman who developed a hepatic tumour suspected to be a breast cancer metastasis. Radiological imaging and guided biopsies were not contributive. The patient underwent an explorative laparoscopy with frozen sections that did not provide further diagnosis, and an open left bisegmentectomy was performed during the same anaesthesia. Histopathological examination of the hepatic mass showed Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes, demonstrating alveolar echinococcosis. As our patient denied any travel in foreign countries and has undergone regular abdominal ultrasonographies since her mastectomy, it is highly likely that this alveolar echinococcosis had been contracted in Belgium. If some imported cases may be seldom managed in Belgium, to our knowledge, this case is the first occurrence of alveolar echinococcosis contracted in Belgium. This report, added to the demonstration of E. multilocaris infection of 50% of red foxes in Southern Belgium, and the potential infection of domestic cats and dogs, should attract attention of the medical community on the possible outbreak of endemic alveolar echinococcosis in Belgium, and on the related public health concerns.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12014318/