Ethanol ablation effective treatment modality for benign head and neck cystic lesions

The research is published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology.

Esther Lee and colleagues from the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States of America evaluated 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.

25 patients who underwent ethanol ablation of head and neck cystic lesions were included, with a mean age of 49.1 years old and 12 males (47.0%). The most common cysts treated with ethanol ablation were thyroglossal duct cysts (n = 8, 32.0%) and lymphoepithelial parotid cysts (n = 7, 28.0%).

The mean volume prior to treatment was 10.57 mL (IQR, 1.58–8.81 mL). Mean volume following ethanol ablation 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).

Also, the mean time to the last follow-up was 5 months (range, 3–6 months). Out of the study sample one patient received surgery despite treatment success to obtain a definitive diagnosis of the mass. No other patients received further surgical management.

The treatment success of ethanol ablation, as defined by >70% volume reduction or the resolution of symptoms, was 92.0%. All patients were satisfied with the outcome and had no reported complications.

As a result, the authors concluded that ethanol ablation 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.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103082