Disseminated alveolar echinococcosis mimicking a metastatic malignancy

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis, which is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, is a very aggressive and potentially fatal infestation which always affects the liver primarily and metastasizes to any part of the body. Imaging studies are usually highly suspicious of carcinoma or sarcoma, and biopsy may provide the first indication of infection. We report a case of disseminated alveolar echinococcosis with liver, lung, and bone involvement mimicking a metastatic malignancy. © 2008 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.