[Alcohol sclerotherapy of biliary cysts. Our experience]

Abstract

Aim of the study: To evaluate if percutaneous ethanol injection treatment, introduced twelve years ago as palliative therapy for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma, can be used with curative intent to treat biliary cysts with good results.

Materials and methods: For the study were observed 13 symptomatic patients (M 4; F 9 - age 38-71, medium 54 years). All the patients were treated by percutaneous alcoholization under ultrasonographic control.

Results: Better technique and protocol standardisation give us the possibility to utilise percutaneous ethanol injection like a good treatment for symptomatic patients.

Conclusions: Easy technique, low cost and very small number of complications gives to percutaneous ethanol injection the possibility to become the gold standard for the treatment of biliary cysts.