Percutaneous ethanol injection of thyroglossal duct cysts.
OBJECTIVE
To report the results of treating 3 patients with a thyroglossal duct cyst by percutaneous ethanol injection and compare the outcome with the results of treatment in 17 patients with thyroid cysts.


METHODS
The details of the ultrasound-guided injection procedure and the clinical course of the patients are presented, along with review of the literature pertaining to alcohol ablation for thyroglossal duct cysts.


RESULTS
Percutaneous ethanol injection was successful in only 1 of 3 patients with thyroglossal duct cysts, in whom the diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography, during a 2-year period. During the same 2-year interval, 17 patients with a thyroid cyst received similar treatment. Ablation of the thyroid cyst was successful in all 17 patients, only 1 of whom required a second ethanol injection procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous ethanol injection does not seem to be as effective in treating thyroglossal duct cysts as in treating thyroid cysts. If the presence of a malignant lesion can be excluded, percutaneous ethanol injection may be considered a secondary treatment in patients with thyroglossal duct cysts who cannot undergo a surgical procedure.
Baskin
H Jack
HJ
Florida Thyroid and Endocrine Clinic, Orlando, Florida 32804, USA.
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D000431:Ethanol