Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41305381›Full record

SynthesisPathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Clinical Presentation, Management and Outcome of Cerebral Echinococcosis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Roberta Leonardi, Alessandra Curatolo, Manuela Lo Bianco, Alessia Migliore, Grete Francesca Privitera, Alfredo Pulvirenti, Giuseppe Nunnari, Andrea Marino, Serena Spampinato, Antonino Maniaci and 4 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Roberta LeonardiPostgraduate Training Program in Pediatrics, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5566-4387
Alessandra CuratoloDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Manuela Lo BiancoUnit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5413-419X
Alessia MigliorePostgraduate Training Program in Pediatrics, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0009-0003-9318-0417
Grete Francesca PriviteraBioinformatics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1807-4780
Alfredo PulvirentiBioinformatics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Giuseppe NunnariUnit of Infectious Disease, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, AOU Garibaldi, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8113-8452
Andrea MarinoUnit of Infectious Disease, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, AOU Garibaldi, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5650-6911
Serena SpampinatoUnit of Infectious Disease, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, AOU Garibaldi, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Antonino ManiaciDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna Kore, 94100 Enna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1251-0185
Pasqua BettaNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, AOU Policlinico G. Rodolico San Marco, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2635-4945
Martino RuggieriUnit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Agata PolizziUnit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4865-0200
Piero PavoneUnit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5600-9560

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCerebral echinococcosis is a rare, potentially serious parasitic disease in children, that can lead to intracranial hypertension, focal neurological deficits, seizures, and severe complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on diagnostic, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes in pediatric cerebral echinococcosis.

methodsA systematic search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, selecting English studies on children (0-18 years). Studies describing clinical, imaging, surgical, pharmacological, and outcome data were eligible. Statistical analyses (Fisher's exact and chi-square tests) were performed in R.

resultsA total of 100 studies with 462 pediatric patients met the inclusion criteria. High-resolution imaging has largely replaced invasive diagnostics; MRI-based diagnosis correlated with better outcomes. Headaches, vomiting, papilledema, seizures, and hemiparesis were common. Surgical cysts' removal remained the main therapy. Additional treatment with albendazole was associated with a higher probability of good outcome (

conclusionsAdvances in non-invasive imaging, refinement of surgical technique, and targeted antiparasitic therapy improved outcomes. Nevertheless, heterogeneous reporting and the prevailing paucity of evidence limit definitive recommendations. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to refine treatment and develop pediatric-specific guidelines.

Indexed as

Brain DiseasesEchinococcosisAdolescentAlbendazoleChildChild, PreschoolDisease ManagementHumansInfantTreatment OutcomeAlbendazolecerebral echinococcosisechinococcosishydatic cystspediatric echinococcosispediatric neuroparassitosis

Identifiers

PMID41305381
PMCPMC12655511

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.