Abstract
Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) has been established as an effective and safe treatment for thyroid and cervical cystic nodules. In this study, 13 patients with fine-needle aspiration cytology-proven benign cysts underwent PEIT. Eleven nodules were thyroid cysts, and two were cervical lymphangioma. The fluid of the cervical cystic nodule was aspirated, and less than 4 mL of sterile 95% ethanol was injected. The pretreatment volume of the cysts was from 3 to 164 mL (average 44 mL) by volume conversion. PEIT was carried out one to four times (median once). The cyst volume after treatment was from 0 to 92 mL (average 8 mL). The volume reduction rate was from 22 to 100% (average 89%). Three patients without subcutaneous anesthesia complained of a local burning sensation at the injection site. The use of subcutaneous anesthesia could avoid the local burning sensation. As PEIT is safe and highly effective, it should be considered as the treatment of choice for benign thyroid and cervical cystic nodules.