Primary extrahepatic alveolar echinococcosis of the lumbar spine and the psoas muscle

Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2011 Apr 15:10:13. doi: 10.1186/1476-0711-10-13.

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) of human being caused by Echinococcus multilocularis is a rare but important zoonosis especially in tempered zones of middle Europe and Northern America with endemic character in many countries. Due to the long incubation period, various clinical manifestations, critical prognosis, and outcome AE presents a serious and severe disease. The primary focus of infection is usually the liver. Although secondary affection of visceral organs is possible extrahepatic AE is highly uncommon. Moreover, the involvement of bone and muscle presents with an even lower incidence. In the literature numerous cases on hepatic AE have been reported. However, extrahepatic AE involving bones and/or muscles was described very rarely. We report a case of an 80-year-old man with primary extrahepatic alveolar Echinococcosis of the lumbar spine and the psoas muscle. The etiology, diagnosis, differential diagnoses, treatment options and outcome of this rare disease are discussed in context with the current literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echinococcosis
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / diagnosis
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / parasitology
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / pathology
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / surgery
  • Echinococcus multilocularis / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Pelvis / diagnostic imaging
  • Psoas Muscles / parasitology
  • Psoas Muscles / pathology*
  • Radiography, Abdominal
  • Spine / parasitology
  • Spine / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Supplementary concepts

  • Alveolar echinococcosis