Abstract
Six patients with a ruptured Echinococcus liver cyst were treated by means of endoscopy. The treatment consisted of endoscopic
sphincterotomy, cyst material extraction and hypotonic saline lavage via a nasobiliary
catheter. In five patients successful complete endoscopic treatment was achieved,
including removal of daughter cysts. In the sixth patient only partial treatment could
be performed with clearance of daughter cysts since there was no communication with
the main liver cyst. Follow-up ultrasonography, CT and ERCP in all patients showed
complete cure and no evidence of disease recurrence in five of them. The sixth patient
required surgery one month after endoscopic treatment of the acute biliary obstruction.
