Patient Treatment

Diagnosis, therapy, follow-up

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of echinococcosis is based on

  • Anamnesis, collection of risk factors, basic blood tests
  • Medical imaging
  • Specific serology
  • Indirect detection methods

At our center diagnostics is carried out on the current state of science. In addition to ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and PET-CT are used. The cooperation with the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine also carries out the pathogen-specific serological examination according to the highest quality standards.

Therapy

The treatment of echinococcosis is highly individualized and is based on a calculated benefit-risk assessment of possible therapies in relation to

  • Pathogenic agents
  • Clinical stage of the disease
  • Number, size and location of the foci in the affected organs
  • Individual risk factors of the patient
  • and individual preference of the patient

In general, the following therapeutic approaches are available, which may be useful alone or in combination:

  • Drug-based (long-term) therapy with antiparasitic drugs
  • Percutaneous puncture and therapy of cysts (so-called PAIR procedure)
  • Operative care
  • Observation and waiting

Based on our systematic diagnostics, therapy recommendations are made in interdisciplinary team sessions. The structured and centralized patient care in our special outpatient clinic ensures a high degree of experience of all treating physicians with this overall rare disease, thus ensuring the best possible patient care.