Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Dec;31(12):9048-9056.
doi: 10.1007/s00330-021-08033-2. Epub 2021 May 18.

Chemical ablation using ethanol or OK-432 for the treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sang Ik Park  1 , Jung Hwan Baek  2 , Chong Hyun Suh  1 , Sae Rom Chung  1 , Young Jun Choi  1 , Tae Yong Kim  3 , Yu-Mi Lee  4 , Jeong Hyun Lee  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Chemical ablation using ethanol or OK-432 for the treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sang Ik Park et al. Eur Radiol. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To review the effectiveness and safety of chemical ablation using ethanol or OK-432 for the treatment of TGDCs (thyroglossal duct cysts).

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to May 29, 2020, to identify studies reporting the safety and efficacy of chemical ablation using ethanol or OK-432 for the treatment of TGDCs. The search query consisted of synonyms of thyroglossal duct cysts and ethanol or OK-432 ablation. The pooled success and complication rates were calculated using the inverse variance method to calculate weights, and pooled proportions were determined using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects method.

Results: Seven original articles including a total of 129 patients were included. The efficacy of chemical ablation was acceptable, with a pooled success rate of 70% (95% CI, 47-86%). The pooled success rate of ethanol ablation was superior to that of OK-432 ablation, although with equivocal statistical significance (84% vs. 51%, p = 0.055). Repeat ethanol ablation achieved a pooled success rate of 47% (95% CI, 24-71%). The chemical ablation procedures were safe, with a pooled major complication rate of 0.9% (95% CI, 0.1-5.8%).

Conclusions: Chemical ablation using ethanol or OK-432 for the treatment of TGDCs had acceptable success and low complication rates, and repeat treatment after initial failure was also feasible. In addition, it is an inexpensive and simple procedure and could therefore be considered a first-line treatment for TGDCs.

Key points: • The efficacy of chemical ablation using ethanol or OK-432 was acceptable, with a pooled success rate of 70% (95% CI, 47-86%). The pooled success rate of ethanol ablation was superior to that of OK-432 ablation, although with equivocal statistical significance (84% vs. 51%, p = 0.055). • Repeat ethanol ablation was also feasible, with a pooled success rate of 47% (95% CI, 24-71%). • The chemical ablation procedures were safe, with a pooled major complication rate of 0.9% (95% CI, 0.1-5.8%).

Keywords: Ethanol; Intralesional injections; Picibanil; Thyroglossal cyst.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Pounds LA (1981) Neck masses of congenital origin. Pediatr Clin North Am 28:841–844 - DOI
    1. Ward GE, Hendrick JW, Chambers RG (1949) Thyroglossal tract abnormalities, cysts and fistulas; report of 105 cases from the Johns Hopkins Hospital observed during the years 1926 to 1946. Surg Gynecol Obstet 89:727–734 illust - PubMed
    1. Gioacchini FM, Alicandri-Ciufelli M, Kaleci S, Magliulo G, Presutti L, Re M (2015) Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of thyroglossal duct cysts: a systematic review. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 44:119–126 - DOI
    1. Hirshoren N, Neuman T, Udassin R, Elidan J, Weinberger JM (2009) The imperative of the Sistrunk operation: review of 160 thyroglossal tract remnant operations. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 140:338–342 - DOI
    1. Rohof D, Honings J, Theunisse HJ et al (2015) Recurrences after thyroglossal duct cyst surgery: results in 207 consecutive cases and review of the literature. Head Neck 37:1699–1704 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources