Chemotherapy in alveolar echinococcosis of multi-organs: what's the role?

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficiency of chemotherapy for the treatment of human alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Twenty-four patients who suffered from late-stage AE were enrolled in this study. The classification of the disease stages was performed according to the PNM (parasite lesion, neighboring organ invasion, metastases) classification system established by the World Health Organization Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis and classification standards. Radical surgery (n = 3), palliative surgery plus chemotherapy (n = 11), and sole chemotherapy (n = 10) were given, respectively. For those with AE metastasis with spleen and kidney, radical surgery was effective for the treatment. However, the treatment efficiency for those with AE metastasis to bone tissues was unfavorable. Significant improvement was noted in those with cerebral lesions after chemotherapy. Stable health conditions were observed in those with pulmonary lesions after chemotherapy. For those with liver lesion, long stable health conditions were noted after chemotherapy. However, surgical interventions were needed as the occurrence of bile duct complications. With regards to the other lesions, radical surgeries were recommended. Satisfactory treatment outcomes were obtained in those with AE after chemotherapy.