Ethanol ablation effective for treatment of head and neck cystic lesions, Finds study

Esther Lee and associates from the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States of America carried out the present research with the objective to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethanol ablation in the treatment of benign head and neck cystic lesions.

The authors included a total of 25 patients who received ethanol ablation (EA) of head and neck cystic lesions by an otolaryngologist at a single institution. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment details, and treatment outcomes at follow up visits were obtained by retrospective review of electronic medical records.

The following results were highlighted-

9. 25 patients who underwent ethanol ablation of head and neck cystic lesions were included, with a mean age of 49.1 years old (Interquartile range (IQR),32.5–65.5 years) and 12 males (47.0%).
10. The most common cysts treated with EA were thyroglossal duct cysts (n = 8, 32.0%) and lymphoepithelial parotid cysts (n = 7, 28.0%).
11. The mean volume prior to treatment was 10.57 mL (IQR, 1.58–8.81 mL).
12. Mean volume following EA was 1.30 mL (range, 0.10–0.97 mL) with 74.40% cyst reduction by volume (IQR, 48.56–96.29%) (p = 0.002).
13. The mean time to the last follow-up was 5 months (range, 3–6 months).
14. One patient received surgery despite treatment success to obtain a definitive diagnosis of the mass.
15. No other patients received further surgical management.
16. The treatment success of EA, as defined by >70% volume reduction or the resolution of symptoms, was 92.0%.
17. All patients were satisfied with the outcome and had no reported complications.

Hence, the authors concluded that "EA is an effective and safe alternative to surgery for the treatment of head and neck cystic lesions that can be performed in an outpatient setting by an otolaryngologist."