Clinical characterization of unusual cystic echinococcosis in southern part of Turkey.

Ann Saudi Med 2014 November-December www.annsaudimed.net 508 Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is endemic in the Mediterranean region, Central Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the southern part of South America.1-3 Human CE infections occur by accidental ingestion of eggs excreted with feces of infected carnivores. Oncospheres hatch in the duodenum, penetrate the intestine, and are transported via the bloodstream to various organs. The liver is the most commonly involved organ (52%-77%) because the liver filters oncospheres (if any) from the blood that flows from the portal vein, which drains the intestinal veins.4 If oncospheres esClinical characterization of unusual cystic echinococcosis in southern part of Turkey