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Modern role of clinical ultrasound in liver abscess and echinococcosis

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Abstract

In the Western world, liver abscesses are predominantly of pyogenic origin and can present a wide range of ultrasonographic features, from a solid mass to a cystic cavity. Amoebic abscesses are endemic in tropical areas and typically round single lesions. Echinococcal cyst is diagnosed by ultrasound (US). Serology is particularly useful when pathognomonic US features are absent. Treatment is determined based on the WHO ultrasonographic classification, and puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration (PAIR) is a US-guided therapeutic option. Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis presents on US as a pseudotumoral mass frequently with calcifications that may invade the biliary tree and portal and hepatic veins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastronterology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal

    Rita Barosa

  2. Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Amato Lusitano, Castelo Branco, Portugal

    João Pinto, Ana Caldeira & Eduardo Pereira

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  1. Rita Barosa
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  2. João Pinto
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  3. Ana Caldeira
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  4. Eduardo Pereira
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Correspondence to Rita Barosa.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Rita Barosa, João Pinto, Ana Caldeira, and Eduardo Pereira declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Barosa, R., Pinto, J., Caldeira, A. et al. Modern role of clinical ultrasound in liver abscess and echinococcosis. J Med Ultrasonics 44, 239–245 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-016-0765-2

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