Polycystic hydatidosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Polycystic hydatidosis (Neotropical echinococcosis) is a zoonosis, with Echinococcus vogeli acting as the etiological agent. It occurs solely in the New World, with reports of cases coming almost exclusively from the Amazon region. This condition has a chronic evolution, the symptoms of which only manifest in the most advanced stage of the disease with symptoms of palpable abdominal mass. The organ most frequently affected is typically the liver. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is prevalent in more than 1.5 million people worldwide. In Brazil, Hepatocellular Carcinoma is related to Hepatitis B and C viral infections in 68.5% of cases. The hepatitis incidence in the Amazon region is higher than in other regions of the country and is one of the differential diagnoses of polycystic hydatidosis. The concomitance of these infections has not yet been described in the literature.