RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide more evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. METHODS: The clinical records of 175 cases with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from 2012 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 175 cases with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, the male to female ratio was 1â¶1.6, and the mean age was (38.6 ± 12.9) years (range, 11 to 69 years). 93.7% of the patients (164 cases) were Tibetan, and 79.4% (139 cases) were from Guoluo Prefecture. 73.7% (129 cases) were herdsmen, and 58.3% (102 cases) were illiterate. The major clinical symptoms included upper abdominal pain, yellowing of skin and mucosa, and scleral icterus. 69.1% of the lesions were located in bilateral livers, and 63.4% of the cases have 2 and more lesions. 53.7% of the cases have their inferior vena cava involved by the lesions. In addition, the most affected neighboring organ was diaphragmatic muscle (21.7%), and lung was the most affected distant metastatic site (40.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is highly prevalent in Guoluo Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Screening of this disease is required in this region and rational treatment scheme should be developed.