Current progress on lesion classification of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Human alveolar echinococcosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection. It predominantly injuries the liver and grows like the malignant tumor. The therapeutic options and prognosis depend on types of human alveolar echinococcosis, clinical stages, biological activity, vascular invasion, pathological characteristics, and patient's immune status. However, despite of multiple classification methods, there are still lacking of comprehensive typing schemes. which leads to inappropriate diagnosis and therapy. This research systematically reviewed the recent studies on human alveolar echinococcosis at home and abroad and analyzed the classifications based on ultrasound, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission computed tomography, serology and pathology, and some novel technologies and summarized the individual advantage and disadvantage for each classification Relationships and their advantages plus disadvantages have been assessed comprehensively. Meanwhile, the possible reference factors or theoretical basis for optimized future classification are proposed, in order to establish a unified classification system to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.