TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMATIC CONGENITAL HEPATIC CYSTS WITH SINGLE-SESSIONPERCUTANEOUS DRAINAGE AND ETHANOL SCLEROSIS - TECHNIQUE AND OUTCOME

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous aspiratio n and ethanol sclerotherapy as the sole treatment for symptomatic, non neoplastic, congenital hepatic cysts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prosp ective study, 59 symptomatic, congenital hepatic cysts in 25 patients were treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration and ethano l sclerotherapy. Eleven patients had a solitary cyst, and 14 patients had polycystic liver disease, Mean follow-up was 4 years. RESULTS: Fif ty-seven (97%) of 59 sclerotherapy procedures were technically success ful, and there were no recurrences, Eight cysts in six patients disapp eared totally, The mean diameter of the remaining 49 cysts decreased f rom 9 cm to 3 cm, At the last follow-up visit, 14 patients were asympt omatic, four had milder epigastric pain than before the treatment, and seven with polycystic liver disease had recurrent symptoms due to gro wth of nontreated cysts, No major complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous aspiration with ethanol sclerotherapy is a safe, effectiv e, and minimally invasive treatment method for symptomatic congenital cysts, It is the initial treatment of choice for all patients with sym ptomatic congenital hepatic cysts.