Ultrasound-guided aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy for treating endometrial cysts.
OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound (US)-guided aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy in treating endometrial cysts and adopt this procedure as an alternative to surgery.


METHODS
Fifty consecutive patients with an average age of 25.2 years [standard deviation (SD) 6.5; range 16-40 years) and US diagnosis of endometrial cyst who were pregnant or presenting with high anaesthesia risk, adhesions or who refused surgery underwent US-guided aspiration of a total of 54 endometrial cysts (40 with transabdominal approach and the remaining 14 with transvaginal approach) and ethanol sclerotherapy.


RESULTS
The procedure was successful in all patients. Follow-up imaging was carried out at 12 h, 24 h, 15 days, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. After 12 months, four patients (8%) showed recurrence, three of whom opted for a second session of US-guided aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
US-guided aspiration and sclerotherapy with 95% ethanol provides a valid alternative to surgery in treating endometrial cysts.
Gatta
G
G
Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale Magrassi-Lanzara, Sezione di Radiodiagnostica e Radioterapia, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Piazza Miraglia 2, Naples, Italy.
Parlato
V
V
Di Grezia
G
G
Porto
A
A
Cappabianca
S
S
Grassi
R
R
Rotondo
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000431:Ethanol