A case of Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with alveolar echinococcosis.

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis of the liver is caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) is a hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction and involves abdominal pain, hepatomegaly and high-gradient ascites. A low-gradient ascites in connection with the Syndrome rarely occurs in case of alveolar echinococcosis of the liver. Here we report a 20-year-old man with the syndrome and low-gradient ascites due to a huge liver mass. Further diagnostic examination revealed alveolar echinococcosis of the liver. Diuretic agents and albendazole were used as palliative therapy in the case.