[Treatment of peritoneal hydatidosis with mebendazole. Preliminary study (author's transl)].

Authors present three cases of peritoneal hydatidosis, two of which are due to spontaneous rupture of hepatic hydatid cysts and the other due to operative rupture of ovarian hydatid cyst. A dose of 1 g./day of mebendazole was administered for 11 months with 30 day break periods every three months. Mebendazole has proved effective in the treatment of secondary echinococcosis. In authors judgement this may be an effective treatment for peritoneal spreading if mebendazole is used at an early stage since they have verified the absence of dissemination in one of the cases and an inactive dissemination in other one. If treatment is applied later, regression is achieved too, but more slowly. Immunological and ecographical results are reported in detail as well as surgical and pathologic findings. A cautious interpretation of these preliminary results is advised since data on long-term results are lacking.