Endoscopic Ultrasound–Guided vs. Percutaneous Ethanol Ablation of Symptomatic Hepatic Cysts

Both techniques are effective, but some lesions are more suited to one technique versus the other.

Although most hepatic cysts are small and asymptomatic, some become large and can produce symptoms of pain, nausea, early satiety, or a sensation of right upper quadrant fullness. Instillation of ethanol into hepatic cysts (after aspiration of cyst fluid) can produce durable resolution of hepatic cysts in many patients, and this can be performed via percutaneous or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)–guided approaches. In a recent study, researchers evaluated long-term outcomes in 47 patients undergoing alcohol ablation of symptomatic hepatic cysts via percutaneous treatment (n=30), EUS-guided therapy (n=14), or both (n=3).

The median cyst volume was 347 mL. All patients experienced pain relief after treatment. During a median follow-up of 66 months…

Reviewing Author

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Endoscopic Ultrasound–Guided vs. Percutaneous Ethanol Ablation of Symptomatic Hepatic Cysts

Topics

Reviewing Author