Circulating cell-free DNA in patients with alveolar echinococcosis.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic disease, due to Echinococcus multilocularis. Often compared to liver cancer, it develops by infiltration from its primary site to the surrounding tissue, and can then metastasize to other organs. Detection of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) is a useful analytical tool in oncology, for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring. This study sought to investigate the presence of ccfDNA in patients with AE, and its potential usefulness for the evaluation of treatment efficiency. To achieve these aims, a quantitative PCR and a droplet digital PCR were developed to detect E. multilocularis ccfDNA. An AE animal model identified, for the first time, the presence of large quantities of ccfDNA. Samples from patients with AE (n = 31) were then analyzed twice, at diagnosis, and after three months of chemotherapy: about 25% were positive, almost always with very low concentrations of ccfDNA. These results confirmed that E. multilocularis produces ccfDNA, as solid tumors do, but detection may not yet be sufficient for AE diagnosis nor for the evaluation of treatment efficiency, due to the low levels of ccfDNA detected in patient serum.

Current interventional strategy for the treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

INTRODUCTION: The use of various types of invasive interventions combined with anti-infective drugs in the therapeutic strategy of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) has changed during the last 30 years. Areas covered: This article reviews the current respective indications of surgical, percutaneous and perendoscopic interventions in AE and proposes an integrative therapeutic strategy. Expert commentary: Hepatic resection is indicated whenever it is feasible and curative; palliative surgery should be avoided; percutaneous procedures are best adapted to the drainage of the necrotic cavity present in advanced cases; perendoscopic procedures with stenting are best adapted to alleviating the biliary complications that are common and life-threatening in AE patients. Continuous administration of albendazole or mebendazole, without interruption is mandatory in all cases, temporarily (recommended duration: 2 years) after radical lesion resection in patients without immune suppression; for life in all other cases. Long-term follow-up is essential.

Alveolar echinococcosis: correlation between hepatic MRI findings and FDG-PET/CT metabolic activity.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the appearance of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) hepatic lesions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as defined by Kodama, to the metabolic activity visualized in 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients diagnosed with AE and who underwent both MRI and PET/CT were included. The forty-two hepatic lesions were divided into five types according to Kodama's classification by three independent readers blinded with regard to the PET/CT information. Concerning PET/CT, two independent readers, unaware of the MRI information, considered the results as positive when an increased FDG-uptake was observed at 1 or 3 h after FDG-injection, and as negative when no increased uptake was noted. Inter-observer agreement was assessed by using κ statistics. RESULTS: Forty-two lesions were counted and the mean diameter of overall evaluated lesions was 6.3 cm. One lesion (2.4%) was categorized as type 1, 11 (26.2%) as type 2, 24 (57.1%) as type 3, 3 (7.1%) as type 4, and 3 (7.1%) as type 5. The inter-observer analysis found a κ coefficient of 0.96. All type-1, 90.9% of type-2 and 87.5% of type-3 lesions showed an increased FDG-uptake on PET/CT images. All non-microcystic AE liver lesions (types 4 and 5) showed no abnormal increased FDG-uptake on PET/CT images. The inter-observer analysis at 1 and 3 h found a κ coefficient of 0.95 and 0.92, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AE liver lesions, the absence of microcysts on MRI is strongly correlated to a metabolically inactive disease.

Retro-ureteral internal hernia after transperitoneal ureter reimplantation: an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction.

Report of a case of surgically confirmed closed-loop small bowel obstruction due to internal hernia following transperitoneal ureter reimplantation. Multidetector computed tomography (CT) demonstrated the presence and the cause of this unusual postsurgical internal hernia. The CT findings are presented herein.