[Alcohol sclerotherapy of biliary cysts. Our experience].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate if percutaneous ethanol injection treatment, introduced twelve years ago as palliative therapy for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma, can be used with curative intent to treat biliary cysts with good results.


METHODS
For the study were observed 13 symptomatic patients (M 4; F 9 - age 38-71, medium 54 years). All the patients were treated by percutaneous alcoholization under ultrasonographic control.


RESULTS
Better technique and protocol standardisation give us the possibility to utilise percutaneous ethanol injection like a good treatment for symptomatic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Easy technique, low cost and very small number of complications gives to percutaneous ethanol injection the possibility to become the gold standard for the treatment of biliary cysts.
Di Cataldo
A
A
Service de Chirurgie Generale, Université de Catania.
Azzarello
G
G
Lanteri
R
R
Licitra
E
E
Licata
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000431:Ethanol