Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case report

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection, predominantly colonizes the liver and may metastasize to the lungs or brain in advanced stages. Involvement of extrapulmonary sites such as the chest wall or subcutaneous tissues is exceedingl...

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Main Authors: Meng-Zhao Xu, Fei Ke, Jin-Ping Chai, Ji-De A, Lin-Xun Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1538839/full
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author Meng-Zhao Xu
Fei Ke
Jin-Ping Chai
Ji-De A
Lin-Xun Liu
author_facet Meng-Zhao Xu
Fei Ke
Jin-Ping Chai
Ji-De A
Lin-Xun Liu
author_sort Meng-Zhao Xu
collection DOAJ
description Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection, predominantly colonizes the liver and may metastasize to the lungs or brain in advanced stages. Involvement of extrapulmonary sites such as the chest wall or subcutaneous tissues is exceedingly rare, even in endemic regions. The nonspecific clinical manifestations and imaging features of chest wall AE pose diagnostic challenges, necessitating histopathological confirmation. We present a case of a 48-year-old female admitted with a chief complaint of a right supra-mammary mass persisting for over 1 year. Imaging studies revealed a cystic lesion in the right chest wall and a hypodense hepatic lesion in the right lobe, suggestive of hydatid disease. The patient underwent combined hepatic segmentectomy and chest wall mass resection under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination confirmed AE infection in both hepatic and anterior chest wall specimens. The patient achieved complete recovery with no postoperative complications and was discharged uneventfully. Regular oral albendazole therapy has been maintained for 6 months postoperatively, with no recurrence to date.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-92e2dcd63b8e451b8d84f24ce71c670c2025-08-20T02:26:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-04-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15388391538839Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case reportMeng-Zhao Xu0Fei Ke1Jin-Ping Chai2Ji-De A3Lin-Xun Liu4The Graduate School, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaThe Graduate School, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaDepartment of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, ChinaDepartment of Hepatic Hydatidosis, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, ChinaAlveolar echinococcosis (AE), a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection, predominantly colonizes the liver and may metastasize to the lungs or brain in advanced stages. Involvement of extrapulmonary sites such as the chest wall or subcutaneous tissues is exceedingly rare, even in endemic regions. The nonspecific clinical manifestations and imaging features of chest wall AE pose diagnostic challenges, necessitating histopathological confirmation. We present a case of a 48-year-old female admitted with a chief complaint of a right supra-mammary mass persisting for over 1 year. Imaging studies revealed a cystic lesion in the right chest wall and a hypodense hepatic lesion in the right lobe, suggestive of hydatid disease. The patient underwent combined hepatic segmentectomy and chest wall mass resection under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination confirmed AE infection in both hepatic and anterior chest wall specimens. The patient achieved complete recovery with no postoperative complications and was discharged uneventfully. Regular oral albendazole therapy has been maintained for 6 months postoperatively, with no recurrence to date.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1538839/fullalveolar echinococcosisliverchest wallsurgical treatmentcase report
spellingShingle Meng-Zhao Xu
Fei Ke
Jin-Ping Chai
Ji-De A
Lin-Xun Liu
Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case report
Frontiers in Medicine
alveolar echinococcosis
liver
chest wall
surgical treatment
case report
title Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case report
title_full Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case report
title_fullStr Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case report
title_short Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis: a case report
title_sort hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with chest wall metastasis a case report
topic alveolar echinococcosis
liver
chest wall
surgical treatment
case report
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1538839/full
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AT jinpingchai hepaticalveolarechinococcosiswithchestwallmetastasisacasereport
AT jidea hepaticalveolarechinococcosiswithchestwallmetastasisacasereport
AT linxunliu hepaticalveolarechinococcosiswithchestwallmetastasisacasereport