[Strategy in sonographic suspicion of a parasitic disease of the liver (echinococcosis and amebic abscess)].

Ultrasonography is a widely used, early available and well established method in the examination of abdominal symptoms. The strategy for investigation of focal liver lesions, suspected to be parasitoses of the liver (echinococcus cysts or amebic abscess) is shown. The ultrasonographic morphology of echinococcosis and amebic abscess is characteristic, although it is imperative to distinguish these lesions from other tumorous or cystic lesions. The diagnosis suspected through case history and clinical appearance is confirmed by modern serological tests in 90 to 95% of echinococcosis and in 95 to 100% of amebiasis. Fine-needle aspiration guided by ultrasound is indicated in cases of a negative serological result in order to exclude a pyogenic abscess. This evaluation allows a fast diagnosis and efficient therapy.