A Young Woman with Multiple Liver Cysts

A 29-year-old housewife presented with abdominal pain and abnormal results on liver function tests (table 1). The patient was from a rural area (Garmsar, Iran) and there was no family history of a similar disease. Her family owned various animals most notably jackals, dogs, and cats. The animals were not receiving regular veterinary check-ups, preventive care, or even vaccinations. The patient underwent a liver sonography and multiple echogenic liver cysts were reported. Consequently, an abdominal CT scan was done which showed multiple cysts in her liver (figure 1). The radiological findings suggested multiple cystic lesions of the liver and patient’s history raised the suspicion of hydatid disease. To confirm this diagnosis, a serological study of IgG ELISA for echinococcal antigens was done which yielded positive results. A surgical consultation was done; however, the medical treatment was selected by the patient. Therefore, treatment with albendazole was started.