Resection versus pericystectomy in the treatment of hydatidosis of the liver.

The surgical treatment of 87 hepatic cysts from Echinococcus granulosus in 42 patients has been presented. The importance of determining the features of the cysts in each patient (age, number, location, and relation with vasculobiliary structures) in order to carry out the most appropriate treatment was stressed. Radical surgery was preferred because marsupialization, a conservative technique still widely used, has a high complication rate (60 percent in this study) and a prolonged recovery time. Arguments for and against cystopericystectomy and hepatic resections have been discussed. It is noteworthy that excellent results have been observed after hepatic resection when it was performed in selected patients.