Percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of symptomatic cystic metastases from ovarian carcinoma. Work in progress.

Two patients with symptomatic cystic metastases from ovarian epithelial carcinoma underwent ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous aspiration and temporary injection of 99% ethanol into the cyst. In the first case, the patient initially underwent surgical resection of the mass and received systemic chemotherapy, but the cyst recurred 2 months later. Percutaneous aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy were performed twice in the second case; fluid reaccumulated 2 months after the initial procedure. No side effects occurred. During the follow-up period (8 months in the first case and 4 months in the second), no clinical recurrence of the initial symptoms was noted. At the end of that period, a recurrent but asymptomatic cystic lesion was revealed at US examination in the first case. In the second case, a minimal asymptomatic residual collection was depicted with computed tomography. The results indicate that this technique should be considered in patients with symptomatic cystic metastases from ovarian carcinoma and may have potential benefit in the palliative treatment of such lesions.