Sonographic changes of hydatid cyst of the liver after treatment with mebendazole and albendazole

Hydatid disease is a tape-worm infection caused by either Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus multilocularis. The disease is endemic in many countries throughout the world. In man, the liver is the most common organ involved by this parasite because the route of entry of the larvae is the portal venous system (Sherlock, 1981). The radiological appearances of hydatid disease have been described previously, including ultrasound and computed tomography (Itzchak et al, 1980; Gharbi et al, 1981; Niron & Ozer, 1981; Hadidi, 1982; Choliz et al, 1982; Beggs, 1983). Not many reports have mentioned the changes after medical treatment (Bekhti et al, 1977; Morris et al, 1983, 1984). We report the serial sonographic changes in a patient with a hepatic hydatid cyst who has been treated with mebendazole and albendazole during a five-year period.