Evaluation of the effectiveness of microscopy of surgical material performed by cito in patients with suspected echinococcosis

BACKGROUND: At present, the relevance of echinococcosis is attributed to its wide prevalence in Russia. More than 30 cases were registered in the country’s 88 administrative territories. In establishing the final diagnosis of echinococcosis, instrumental (ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) and serological methods (determination of specific antibodies based on enzyme-linked immunoassay) are important. However, imaging methods in some cases do not allow to differentiate echinococcal cysts from other volumetric formations, and serological tests can give false-negative results. Hydatidosis is characterized by a long course and is often diagnosed late, when complications develop. The surgical method is considered a radical method of treatment. The diagnosis was confirmed by the results of the pathomorphological examination of the surgical material.

AIM: To examine the effectiveness of parasitological diagnosis of echinococcosis performed by cito using microscopy of cyst contents obtained during surgical intervention.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The surgical samples were studied in cito using microscopy of cyst contents.

RESULTS: Of the 47 samples examined according to cito, protoscolexes of Echinococcus granulosus were found in 31 (65.7%) patients. In 2 (4.3%) cases, only single hooks of the larvae were found in the samples under study. In 3 (6.4%) patients, the echinococcal nature of the cysts was confirmed by delayed pathomorphological studies of the surgical material with the preparation of histological sections. In 11 (23.4%) patients, the parasitic nature of mass lesions was excluded.

CONCLUSION: Microscopy of the surgical material by cito to detect morphological signs of the parasitic nature of the cyst is a highly effective method that allows confirming the diagnosis of echinococcosis promptly.