Diagnosis and classification of female echinococcosis in pelvic cavity by ultrasonography

Objective To analyze pelvic cystic echinococcosis by ultrasonography and assess the value of ultrasonographic diagnosis.Methods The ultrasound characteristics for forty cases of female pelvis echinococcosis diagnosed by surgery and pathology were analyzed and compared.Results The simple cystic echinococcosis was shown as round or round-like hydatid cysts with a thick wall in 6 cases by ultrasonography.Two or more cystic dark spaces of hydatid cyst were detected in pelvis with multiple hydatid cysts having cyst-link-cyst sign in 11 cases.In the presence of daughter cysts,the different sizes of spherical intensified light rings were visualized in the dark space of mother cyst with a characteristic cyst-in-cyst sign in 15 cases.The light floccules showed heterogeneous echo in the five infectious hydatid cysts.The ruptured and collapsed endocyst produced band echos in 3 cases.Conclusions The location and appearance of the cystic echinococcosis could be accurately examined by ultrasound,which provided valuable information for diagnosis and treatment.