TY - JOUR T1 - Efficacy and Safety of Ethanol Ablation for Branchial Cleft Cysts JF - American Journal of Neuroradiology JO - Am. J. Neuroradiol. DO - 10.3174/ajnr.A5373 AU - E.J. Ha AU - S.M. Baek AU - J.H. Baek AU - S.Y. Shin AU - M. Han AU - C.-H. Kim Y1 - 2017/09/28 UR - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2017/09/28/ajnr.A5373.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Branchial cleft cyst is a common congenital lesion of the neck. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ethanol ablation as an alternative treatment to surgery for branchial cleft cyst.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2006 and October 2016, ethanol ablation was performed in 22 patients who refused an operation for a second branchial cleft cyst. After the exclusion of 2 patients who were lost to follow-up, the data of 20 patients were retrospectively evaluated. All index masses were confirmed as benign before treatment. Sonography-guided aspiration of the cystic fluid was followed by injection of absolute ethanol (99%) into the lesion. The injected volume of ethanol was 50%–80% of the volume of fluid aspirated. Therapeutic outcome, including the volume reduction ratio, therapeutic success rate (volume reduction ratio of >50% and/or no palpable mass), and complications, was evaluated.RESULTS: The mean index volume of the cysts was 26.4 ± 15.7 mL (range, 3.8–49.9 mL). After ablation, the mean volume of the cysts decreased to 1.2 ± 1.1 mL (range, 0.0–3.5 mL). The mean volume reduction ratio at last follow-up was 93.9% ± 7.9% (range, 75.5%–100.0%; P < .001). Therapeutic success was achieved in all nodules (20/20, 100%), and the symptomatic (P < .001) and cosmetic (P < .001) scores had improved significantly by the last follow-up. In 1 patient, intracystic hemorrhage developed during the aspiration; however, no major complications occurred in any patient.CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol ablation is an effective and safe treatment for patients with branchial cleft cysts who refuse, or are ineligible for, an operation.BCCbranchial cleft cystEAethanol ablationUSultrasonography ER -