Ultrasound-Guided Ethanol Ablation as a Primary Treatment for Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: Feasibility, Characteristics, and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the feasibility, characteristics, and outcomes of ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation (US-EA) as a primary treatment for thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDCs).

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective case series.

SETTING

Single center study.

METHODS

The inclusion criteria were as follows: (i) patients with TGDC aged ≥18 years, (ii) benign TGDC in imaging and cytological examinations, and (iii) patients' need for nonsurgical scarless treatment. US-EA was used as the primary treatment strategy. The primary outcome variables were the volume reduction rate (VRR) and cosmetic score at the last follow-up.

RESULTS

We enrolled 28 patients with TGDC. The median TGDC volume at baseline was 6.7 mL. The median procedure time of the US-EA was 6.5 minutes. The median volumes of the cyst aspirate and injected ethanol were 4.0 and 2.0 mL, respectively. Overall, 18, 8, and 2 patients underwent 1, 2, and 3 treatment sessions, respectively. There were no complications. The median VRR was 96.2%, and the treatment success rate was 96.4%. The World Health Organization cosmetic score decreased from 4 (baseline) to 1 (after treatment) in all patients. The subjective grade for cosmetic satisfaction was satisfactory or highly satisfactory in all patients. The VRR, treatment success rate, and the number of treatment sessions did not differ as functions of the characteristics of the TGDC, including the initial volume, septation, debris, or viscosity of the cyst fluid.

CONCLUSION

US-EA was feasible, safe, and effective in patients with TGDC. Therefore, US-EA can be used as a primary treatment for TGDC, evading general anesthesia and surgical scar.