ObjectiveTo analyze findings of 3.0 T diffusion weighted magnetic resonance (MR) in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and evaluate potential role of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. MethodsThe clinical data of 26 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis from November 2013 to January 2015 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Hepatic MR scannings with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) sequences (b-value=0, 600, 1 000, and 1 200 s/mm2) were performed in 26 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. The data of all the patients were stored to the PACS. The lesion features including type, size, distribution, location, and calcification (on the CT) were assessed by two deputy radiologists. TheADCvalues of marginal area, centre area, surrounding area of liver parenchyma tissue were measured at different b values (0, 600, 1 000, and 1 200 s/mm2) and compared. Results①There were 26 patients with a total of 29 lesions, of which involved multiple liver segments, 21 (72%) lesions located in the right lobe, 4 lesions involved simultaneously the left and right lobes. Twenty-four lesions invaded the hepatic vein or portal vein, 20 lesions invaded the intrahepatic bile duct, 10 lesions invaded the right adrenal gland. Seven patients occurred hilar and retroperitoneal lymph nodes metastases, 5 patients occurred pulmonary metastasis, 3 patients occurred brain metastasis, while 3 patients occurred lung and brain metastases simultaneously. ②There were 20 liquefied necrotic lesions, of which 5 lesions marginal area had multiple small round cysts in T2WI, 15 were only solid and without small cyst; The DWI of the centre area in 12 lesions showed a high signal, 8 lesions showed a low signal. There were 9 solid lesions, of which 2 lesions marginal area had multiple small round cysts in T2WI, 7 lesions marginal area were only solid and without cyst in T2WI. The DWI of the solid lesions showed a low signal, there was a "ring" high signal in the edge of lesions. ③At the same b value, theADCvalue of the centre area in the liquefied necrosis lesions were significantly higher than that in the solid lesions (P<0.01). At different b values, theADCvalue of the surrounding liver parenchyma tissue was significantly lower than that of the marginal area (P<0.01) and the centre area (P<0.01) in the liquefied necrosis lesions; theADCvalue of the centre area was significantly higher than that of the marginal area or surrounding liver parenchyma tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the solid lesions. ConclusionsDWI could clearly distinguish structure and composition of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and has a higher value in distinguishing from other liver dieases. The averageADCvalue of centre area in liquefied necrotic lesions is higher than that in solid lesions.
ObjectiveTo evaluate roles and advantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compute.tomography (CT) in preoperative assessment for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. MethodMRI and CT scan imaging data of 60 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis underwent radical surgery were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsMRI scanning could accurately identify the peripheral zone and marginal zone of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis lesions, and CT could not accurately show the above structures. In assessment of anatomic relation between vascular and lesions, MRI findings of 52 cases were in full compliance with corresponding intraoperative findings, and 8 cases were partial compliant. However, CT findings of 35 cases were in full compliance with corresponding intraoperative findings, 13 cases were partial compliant, and 12 cases were not compliant at all. In assessment of anatomic relation between biliary and lesions, MRCP could clearly show the bile duct, bile duct stenosis location and degree; CT scanning could only show widened bile duct, but could not accurately judge bile duct dilatation. ConclusionsMRI exerts some obvious advantages in preoperative evaluation of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, and could accurately find relation between lesions and vascular or biliary system. MRI should be used as routine examination for patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
ObjectiveTo observe effect of echinococcus cyst fluid on proliferation and cell cycle progression of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6), and to preliminarily reveal a new mechanisms of pro-fibrogenic effect of alveolar echinococcosis. MethodsHSC-T6 cells were treated with different concentrations (0.00-0.90 mg/mL) of echinococcus cyst fluid. Then, the morphological changes were observed under the inverted microscope, the impacts on proliferation and cell cycle were tested by the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry respectively. ResultsAfter treated by echinococcus cyst fluids with different concentrations (0.00-0.90 mg/mL) for 24 h, the most cells shrinked fusiform shape with more slender synapses, and the proliferation activities were increased with the concentration of echinococcus cyst fluid increasing when it was higher than 0.05 mg/mL (P<0.05), the proportion of G0/G1 was decreased (P<0.05) and those of S and G2/M were increased (P<0.05) with the concentration of echinococcus cyst fluid increasing. ConclusionsEchinococcus cyst fluid could promote proliferation of HSC-T6 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which might due to its impact on cell cycle progression. Therefore, alveolar echinococcosis might promote hepatic fibrosis through regulating hepatic stellate cells, but further research on detail needs to be done in future.
ObjectiveTo explore potential value of three-dimensional reconstruction technique for preoperative evaluation of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. MethodsTwenty-one cases of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis proved by postoperative pathological examination in Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from October 2013 to March 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The three periods of patients’ liver dynamic thin layerCTscan images were collected and imported in three-dimensional reconstruction software by DICOM format. The volume of the virtual resected liver tissue was calculated by software, and then was compared with the actual resected liver tissue volume. ResultsThe resected liver volume was (761.94±505.77) mL and (756.19±501.78) mL in the virtual surgery and in the veritable surgery, respectively. The proportion of resected liver in the total liver was (39.27±18.75)% and (38.95±16.99)% in the virtual surgery and in the veritable surgery, respectively. The resected liver volume had no significant difference between the virtual surgery and veritable surgery (P>0.05), which a positive relation (r=0.989, P<0.001). ConclusionThe limited preliminary data in this study show that three-dimensional reconstruction technique and virtual planning system for surgery could accurately guide resection of lesion and provide preoperative guidance of accurate liver resection for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
ObjectiveTo summarize clinical treatments of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in recent years and provide a new basis for guiding clinical practice. MethodsThe relevant literatures about treating hepatic alveolar echinococcosis at home and abroad were reviewed. The clinical curative effect and advantages or disadvantages among various treatments were analyzed. ResultsThe radical surgery was still the primary treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, liver transplantation was more used in the treatment of the late hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. surgery combined with chemical therapy had an obvously clinical curative effect. ConclusionsWith a high incidence and poor prognosis of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, it is difficult to cure. Radical surgery, liver transplantation, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been used in clinical treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. It is essential to fully acknowledge indications of various treatments. At the same time, if occurrence and development of this disease could be further researched, it might bring us a new hope of curing hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
ObjectiveTo detect expressions of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-27 (IL-27) proteins in liver tissue of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. MethodsThe edge liver tissues (from the lesion edge 0.5 cm) and the normal liver tissues (from the lesion edge 5 cm) of 20 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University were collected and stored at-80℃ freezer. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expressions of IL-17 and IL-27 proteins in these two tissues. ResultThe positive rates of IL-17 and IL-27 protein expressions in the edge liver tissues were significantly higher than those in the normal liver tissues[IL-17:80.0% (16/20) versus 10.0% (2/20), χ2=12.36, P < 0.01; IL-27:85.0% (17/20) versus 20.0% (4/20), χ2=12.36, P < 0.01]. ConclusionHigh expressions of IL-17 and IL-27 protein in edge liver tissue might participate in progress of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen protein in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis tissues, and to explore its relationship with the biological behavior in progress of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). MethodsTwenty samples of normal liver tissues and liver tissues at the edge of the lesion with HAE in our hospital from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2014 were collected, and HE and Masson staining were performed. The pathological changes and the degree of fibrosis of liver tissues around HAE lesion were observed under light microscope. The expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen protein in liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining. ResultsThe degree of liver fibrosis of liver tissues at the edge of the lesion with HAE was grade Ⅱ, and the degree of fibrosis of normal liver tissues was grade 0, the difference between the two was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The color index of type Ⅰand type Ⅲ collagen protein in the liver tissues at the edge of the lesion with HAE was 7.45±1.85 and 8.00±1.62, respectively, which were higher than those of normal liver tissues (3.10±1.02 and 3.50±0.89), the difference were statistically significant (t=-9.21, P=0.001;t=-10.88, P=0.001). ConclusionsThere is liver fibrosis around the lesion in the patients with HAE. HAE may promote the expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen and then induce the occurrence of liver fibrosis.
ObjectiveTo summarize regional and body distributions, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of echinococcosis outside liver in China. MethodsThe published literatures about echinococcosis outside liver in China (not including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions) from 2000 to 2015 were searched in the databases of CNKI and Wanfang. Data were extracted by using a standardized form and a retrospective clinical analysis was performed. ResultsA total of 66 published literatures about echinococcosis outside liver and data of 884 cases reported were collected. The regional proportions of cases reported were different, five high regions were Xinjiang (68.73%), Tibet (8.77%), Ningxia (6.75%), Qinghai (6.41%), Gansu (5.62%). The organ distributions of cases reported were also different, five high organs were lung (61.09%), bone (9.95%), brain (9.73%), spleen (8.60%), and kidney (6.22%). The main clinical symptoms of patients with echinococcosis outside liver included general asymptoms and organ dysfunction, and the most common examinations were X-ray (30.77%), B ultrasound (7.47%),CT(17.43%), MR (1.59%), and laboratory (36.31%). The main therapy choice was operation (73.30%), and some patients were performed operation combined with drug therapy. ConclusionRegional distribution of echinococcosis outside liver is almost the same as total echinococcosis, and distributed more in organs rich in blood supply, its clinical diagnosis mainly depends on imaging and immunology examination, and operation is still the main therapy choice.