PURPOSE: To describe the results of postoperative pelvic lymphocele tr
eatment by means of percutaneous drainage and sclerosis with bleomycin
, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients underwent treatment of pelvic l
ymphoceles by percutaneous tube drainage followed by instillation of b
leomycin under fluoroscopic guidance at a concentration of 1 unit/mL,
Bleomycin instillation was repeated at weekly intervals until the tube
output was less than 10 mt per day. Three of four patients underwent
unsuccessful sclerosis previously with alcohol, doxycycline, or povido
ne iodine. RESULTS: Lymphocele drainage was reduced to less than 10 mi
per 24 hours after bleomycin sclerosis in all patients. Three patient
s required two sessions, and the fourth patient required three session
s, No patient developed recurrent symptoms suggesting reaccumulation o
f lymph during an average follow-up period of 11 months (range, 6-18 m
onths), No complications related to percutaneous lymphocele drainage o
r sclerosant therapy were encountered. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous intrac
avitary instillation of bleomycin may be considered as an alternative
to surgery in patients who have undergone unsuccessful lymphocele scle
rosis with other agents.