ETHANOL INJECTION SCLEROTHERAPY FOR BAKER CYST, THYROGLOSSAL DUCT CYST, AND BRANCHIAL CLEFT CYST

Six patients with Baker's cysts, 3 with branchial cleft cysts, and 2 w ith thyroglossal duct cysts were treated with percutaneous aspiration and absolute ethanol sclerotherapy using a 7-French pigtail catheter. Cystography was performed before ethanol injection to confirm that the re was no extravasation and that it was a monocystic lesion. One recur rence of a Baker's cyst was revealed in follow-up examinations, which ranged from 11 months to 36 months (mean, 25 months). The major compli cation of hypoesthesia of the popliteal region was observed in 1 patie nt treated for Baker's cyst. The results of this series suggest that e thanol sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for Baker's cyst, bran chial cleft cyst, and thyroglossal duct cyst.