Symptomatic hepatic cysts: percutaneous drainage and sclerosis.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the authors' experience with treatment of symptomatic hepatic cysts by means of percutaneous catheterization and sclerosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with 24 symptomatic hepatic cysts underwent percutaneous drainage and sclerosis. Ten patients had polycystic disease, and 10 had solitary cysts. Sclerosants used were alcohol, tetracycline, doxycycline, or a combination.

RESULTS

Twenty-one of 24 cysts in 17 of 20 patients were treated successfully. Treatment was unsuccessful in three patients: one patient with innumerable medium-size and small cysts, one patient in whom only a needle was inserted (no catheter), and one patient with a cystic metastasis (rather than a simple cyst) that recurred. Complications included pleural effusion in two patients and secondary infection in one patient. The range of blood alcohol levels was 0-0.8 mg%.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous catheter drainage with sclerosis is an effective method of therapy for symptomatic hepatic cysts; careful patient selection is essential for proper therapy.