[Echinococcus cysticus (author's transl)].

Echinococcus cysticus is a parasite; the human organism is invaded by cysticercus of the dog tape worm. In liver 60% of all viable embryos are retained, 30% in the lung, the last 10% spread via the arterial system into all other organs. Diagnosis can be established by serology, sonography, scintigraphy as well as invasive and non-invasive radiological examinations. Case reports of 20 patients with Echinococcus cysticus are given; the disease was localized 16 times in the liver, 3 times in the lung and once in the spleen. Drugs or x-ray treatment have no sufficient therapeutical effect. Trivial trauma can cause rupture of the cysts; therefore surgery is indicated.