An Imported Case of Disseminated Echinococcosis in Korea
10.3347/kjp.2019.57.4.429
- Author:
Dong Hoon SHIN
1
;
Hae Chan JO
;
Jeong Han KIM
;
Kang Il JUN
;
Wan Beom PARK
;
Nam Joong KIM
;
Min Ho CHOI
;
Chang Kyung KANG
;
Myoung Don OH
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea. zeptemiger@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Echinococcosis;
hydatid cyst;
disseminated;
intracranial
- MeSH:
Abdomen;
Albendazole;
Brain;
China;
Cough;
Diagnosis;
Dizziness;
Dysarthria;
Echinococcosis;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Kazakhstan;
Korea;
Liver;
Lung;
Mass Screening;
Middle Aged;
Russia;
Ultrasonography
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2019;57(4):429-434
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A complicated case of echinococcosis with multiple organ involvement is reported in a 53-year-old businessman who frequently traveled overseas, including China, Russia, and Kazakhstan from 2001 to 2007. The patient was first diagnosed with a large liver cyst during a screening abdomen ultrasonography in 2011, but he did not follow up on the lesion afterwards. Six years later, dizziness, dysarthria, and cough developed, and cystic lesions were found in the brain, liver and lungs. The clinical course was complicated when the patient went through multiple surgeries and inadequate treatment with a short duration of albendazole without a definite diagnosis. The patient visited our hospital for the first time in August 2018 due to worsening symptoms; he was finally diagnosed with echinococcosis using imaging and serologic criteria. He is now on prolonged albendazole treatment (400 mg twice a day) with gradual clinical and radiological improvement. A high index of suspicion is warranted to early diagnose echinococcosis in a patient with a travel history to endemic areas of echinococcosis.
