Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of albendazole (ABZ) in the treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE). Methods Randomised trials and quasi-randomised trials of ABZ for treating HCE were sought by electronic and handsearching. Studies were analyzed according to the methods recommended by The Cochrane Collabration. Results Only two studies met the inclusion criteria. The quality of both was graded as B. One study compared ABZ with mebendazole (MBZ). This showed similar effective rates in the numbers of cysts and cases [RR 1.19, 95%CI (0.97, 1.46)] and [RR 1.35, 95%CI (0.91, 2.00)]. The other study compared ABZ plus surgery with surgery alone.This showed that efficacy was comparable between one-month treatment of ABZ plus surgery and surgery alone [RR 1.63, 95%CI (0.90, 2.93)]; but that 3 months of treatment with ABZ plus surgery could significantly improve the efficacy compared to surgery alone [RR 1.89, 95% CI (1.09, 3.29)]. Conclusion In the treatment of HCE, ABZ has similar efficacy on MBZ; long-term (3 months) treatment of ABZ given before surgery may improve the efficacy when compared to surgery alone. More high-quality randomised trials are required to define the role of ABZ in treating HCE.
ObjectiveTo explore the safety and effectiveness of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in treatment of hepatic echinococcosis. MethodsThe clinical data of 8 patients with hepatic echinococcosis from 2008 to 2010 in the HIFU treatment center of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were analyzed retrospectively, the effect of HIFU treatment, postoperative liver area pain, fever, skin burn and other complications were evaluated, the prognosis and recurrence were followed-up. ResultsAll the clinical manifestations and imaging manifes-tations of these 8 patients were improved after HIFU treatment. The liver functions of all the patients were injuried, which all were returned to normal within 5 days. Three patients suffered from fever and recovered within 6 days. Six patients appeared pain of liver area and relieved within 7 days. Operation area skin was basically normal, except 3 cases of mild swelling, no special complications happened. ConclusionFrom the limited data initially shows that it is a safe and effec-tive method of HIFU in treatment of hepatic echinococcosis, which is little invasion and less postoperative complications.