“…Several studies published in the last decade have explored the usefulness of advanced imaging techniques, including ultrasound elastography, CT, and DW-MRI, for the differential diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis and other lesions; however, results were variable and overall disappointing when coming to clinical usefulness [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. FDG-PET/CT, which has a defined role in alveolar echinococcosis, has been also applied to cystic echinococcosis, with potential usefulness to evaluate the presence of inflammatory complications [24][25][26], but not for evaluation of CE cysts in terms of viability [27].…”
Section: Updates On Imaging Techniques For the Etiological Diagnosis ...mentioning
Purpose of review
In 2010, the WHO-Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (IWGE) published an Expert Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of echinococcal infections. We provide an update on the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis through a scoping review of the literature published after the release of the WHO-IWGE document.
Recent findings
Ultrasound accurately and reliably depicts the pathognomonic signs of cystic echinococcosis (CE) stages compared with other imaging techniques. Among these, T2-wighted MRI is to be preferred to computed tomography, which has poor performance for the etiological diagnosis of CE. A negative serology cannot exclude the diagnosis of CE, while a positive serology, applied after the visualization of a CE-compatible lesion, may confirm a CE diagnosis. Serology alone must not be used to define ‘CE’ nor as ‘screening’ tool for infection. Other imaging and laboratory techniques did not show clinically applicable performances.
Summary
In the absence of a focal lesion compatible with a CE cyst, no diagnosis of CE should be attempted. There is urgent need to achieve univocal CE case definitions and consensus diagnostic algorithm, as well as standardization of diagnostic methods and issue of a Target Product Profile of CE diagnostics, as advocated by the WHO in the 2021–2030 roadmap for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
“…Several studies published in the last decade have explored the usefulness of advanced imaging techniques, including ultrasound elastography, CT, and DW-MRI, for the differential diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis and other lesions; however, results were variable and overall disappointing when coming to clinical usefulness [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. FDG-PET/CT, which has a defined role in alveolar echinococcosis, has been also applied to cystic echinococcosis, with potential usefulness to evaluate the presence of inflammatory complications [24][25][26], but not for evaluation of CE cysts in terms of viability [27].…”
Section: Updates On Imaging Techniques For the Etiological Diagnosis ...mentioning
Purpose of review
In 2010, the WHO-Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (IWGE) published an Expert Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of echinococcal infections. We provide an update on the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis through a scoping review of the literature published after the release of the WHO-IWGE document.
Recent findings
Ultrasound accurately and reliably depicts the pathognomonic signs of cystic echinococcosis (CE) stages compared with other imaging techniques. Among these, T2-wighted MRI is to be preferred to computed tomography, which has poor performance for the etiological diagnosis of CE. A negative serology cannot exclude the diagnosis of CE, while a positive serology, applied after the visualization of a CE-compatible lesion, may confirm a CE diagnosis. Serology alone must not be used to define ‘CE’ nor as ‘screening’ tool for infection. Other imaging and laboratory techniques did not show clinically applicable performances.
Summary
In the absence of a focal lesion compatible with a CE cyst, no diagnosis of CE should be attempted. There is urgent need to achieve univocal CE case definitions and consensus diagnostic algorithm, as well as standardization of diagnostic methods and issue of a Target Product Profile of CE diagnostics, as advocated by the WHO in the 2021–2030 roadmap for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.