Percutaneous treatment of symptomatic non-parasitic hepatic cysts. Initial experience with single-session sclerotherapy with polidocanol.

AIMS: Hepatic cysts have a prevalence of 2.5-7% and most of them are asymptomatic. However, large cysts may cause complaints; in such cases an appropriate treatment is necessary (open surgery, laparoscopic deroofing, removal of cystic fluid and injection of a sclerosing agent. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a single session technique with polidocanol in the therapy of symptomatic non parasitic hepatic cysts. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study included 13 patients with symptomatic liver cysts (range 4-10 cm). All patients underwent percutaneous aspiration of the liver cyst under ultrasound guidance followed by instillation of polidocanol (3%, 4-10 ml). The patients were followed up at 1, 3 and 12 months. The disappearance of the cyst or reduction in volume more than 90% was considered successful. If the fluid was accumulated at 1month the procedure was repeated. If after the second injection the fluid accumulation was more than 50% of the initial volume the case was considered a failure and a laparoscopic deroofing was performed.

RESULTS

The procedure was successful in 10 patients, 9 after the first instillation and one after the second (76.9%). The mean initial volume of cysts was 228 ml, and the mean reduction in volume at 1, 3 and 12 months was 80.2%, 91.9% and 96.7%. The cyst resolution was gradual with clinically significant cyst reduction achievement within 1 year after therapy. In 3 patients the fluid reaccumulated at the same volume despite 2 instillations. Those 3 cases the procedure was considered failure and the patients were sent to surgery. In 2 patients (one successfully treated and one with treatment failure) bleeding during the first puncture and aspiration appeared and the therapy was postponed for 1 month. There were no significant adverse effects, and all the patients had relief of symptoms after therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This initial experience with percutaneous aspiration and polidocanol sclerosis of hepatic cysts demonstrated that the technique is efficient and safe.