[Value of ultrasonics in differential diagnosis of pseudotumor hydatid cyst of the liver and other solid hepatic masses (prospective study)].

A prospective study in 88 consecutive patients with solid hepatic mass was performed to determine the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of pseudo-tumoral hydatid cyst. Ultrasonography systematically searched 5 evocative signs: hypoechoic spiral, peripheric hypoechoic rim surrounded by an echoic border, daughter cysts, hyperechoic areas with shadowing and/or enhancement of back-wall echos. Diagnosis of pseudo-tumoral hydatid cyst was based upon the association of, at least, 2 signs. The sensitivity of echography was 92.3% and the specificity was 98.3%. Furthermore this study allow us to propose a new, more accurate, definition of the hydatid spiral. However, serologic tests were found to be of little interest.