The recurrence rate after primary resection of cystic echinococcosis: A meta-analysis and systematic literature review

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic, complex, zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus Granulose tapeworms. The disease may present with a variety of symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. Surgical intervention is the primary treatment modality for CE. Despite advances in surgical techniques and chemotherapy, disease recurrence remains a major concern. Therefore, we aimed to determine the true rate of CE recurrence after primary resection and identify possible factors that increase the risk of recurrence. A systematic search of Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochran Library was conducted to identify studies reporting the incidence of CE recurrence after primary radical surgery. Data were pooled using random effect models. The disease prevalence was determined by calculating the ratio of CE recurrence and the total number of patients. A meta-regression was conducted to identify any potential factors linked to recurrence. A total of 38 eligible studies, with a total of 6,222 CE patients who underwent primary surgical removal, revealed a pooled recurrence rate of 8% (95% CI: 6%–10%). However, significant heterogeneity was observed (I2 p-value