Authors’ Response to Letter: “Diagnosis of Hepatic Hydatid Cysts by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound”

We read the Letter to The Editor entitled “Diagnosis of Hepatic Hydatid Cysts by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound” relating to our recently published single-center study with appreciation [1]. Echinococcus granulosus, causing cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a neglected zoonosis of global prevalence, with endemic distribution in the Mediterranean countries, China and Russia, parts of Africa, South America, Eastern Europe, leading to relevant socio-economic burden, high morbidity and mortality [2]. According to the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group 2007–2015 of the World Health Organization, 19 300 deaths and about 871 000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are attributed to echinococcosis annually. The resulting costs total US$ 3 billion per year [3]. The diagnostic workup comprises sonography and serological analysis.

• References

• 1 Schwarze V. et al. Single-Center Study: Evaluating the Diagnostic Performance and Safety of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in Pregnant Women to Assess Hepatic Lesions. Ultraschall in Med 2019; . [Epub ahead of print]
• 2 Brunetti E. et al. Expert consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in humans. Acta Trop 2010; 114: 1-16
• 3 WHO. Estimates of the Global Burden of Foodborne Disease, Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group 2007–2015, World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/199350/9789241565165_eng.pdf
• 4 Kaltenbach TE. et al. Determination of vitality of liver lesions by alveolar echinococcosis. Comparison of parametric contrast enhanced ultrasound (SonoVue(R)) with quantified 18F-FDG-PET-CT. Nuklearmedizin 2015; 54: 43-49
• 5 Schwarze V. et al The use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the diagnostic evaluation of hepatic echinococcosis. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2018; 70: 449-455 . doi: 10.3233/CH-189310