Endoscopic management of biliary hydatid disease: report on six cases.

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.