Percutaneous ethanol injection into thyroid cysts

Objective: To present the results of 28 patients who were treated by Doppler ultrasound guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) into benign cystic thyroid nodules.

Methods: Before percutaneous injection of ethanol, malignancies were excluded with fine needle aspiration biopsy. Volume of the nodule was calculated according to length χ width χ depth χ π/6 formula. During the application, 95% ethanol solution was injected about half of the initial cystic volume. At follow-up nodule diameter, formation of fibrosclerosis and nodule vascularization were evaluated. More than 50% reduction in nodule volume relative to the initial volume was defined success.

Results: The success rate with single application of PEI was found 88.5 percent. With administration of the second application of PEI on unsuccessful cases success rate increased to 92.9 percent.

Conclusion: Doppler ultrasound-guided PEI injection is a reliable, effective and inexpensive method in the treatment of thyroid cysts with high success rates.