Objective: To assess the effectiveness and long-term results of two repeated ethanol injections in the treatment of symptomatic renal cysts.
Methods: Sixty-eight patients 47 to 75 years old with 77 large (6.3-14.8 cm; mean 8.62 cm) symptomatic cysts were included in this study. Of the 68 patients, in 4 cases there were renal cysts associated with renal calculi. An 8FR Pigtail catheter was inserted into the cyst under ultrasound guidance followed by aspiration of cystic fluid. Two repeated ethanol 95% injections were performed every 24 hours. Patients were followed-up by ultrasonography for a period of 12-48 months (mean 30).
Results: In two patients the cyst puncture was not feasible because of poor visualization of puncture site while in one patient there was communication of cystic cavity with the pelvocaliceal system. In these patients surgical resection of cysts was performed. Complete and partial regression rates were 57/68 (83.82%) and 8/68 (11.76%) respectively. In four patients with renal stones and renal cysts, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was successfully executed I month after sclerotherapy.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that percutaneous aspiration followed by two repeated ethanol injections is highly effective on reducing recurrence of simple renal cysts.