# Is a shortened postoperative albendazole duration after curative surgery for alveolar echinococcosis possible? Results from a prospective multicenter study

## TL;DR

A study found that reducing the post-surgery albendazole treatment duration for alveolar echinococcosis may be safe if monitored with imaging.

## Contribution

The study suggests that albendazole treatment can be safely shortened based on imaging results, challenging the standard 2-year regimen.

## Key findings

- Albendazole was safely discontinued after a median of 14 months in 10 patients with no recurrence.
- Negative PET-CT and MRI results at 1 year supported early discontinuation of treatment.
- A declining rEm18AB antibody index trend supported the decision, though a negative index was not required.

## Abstract

In a prospective study of 15 patients with liver alveolar echinococcosis who underwent curative surgery, a strategy to reduce the recommended 2-year postoperative albendazole (ABZ) regimen was evaluated. Guided by negative positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results at 1 year, ABZ was safely discontinued earlier (median 14 months) in 10 patients, with no recurrence observed during the mean 47 months of follow-up, indicating that postoperative ABZ may be safely shortened with careful imaging follow-up. Interestingly, a retrospective analysis of the rEm18AB antibody index showed that a negative index was not required for ABZ withdrawal, although a declining trend supported the decision.