Effectiveness of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy in benign nodular and cystic thyroid diseases: 12-month follow-up experience.

: This study was designed to clarify the long-term efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) therapy in benign nodular and cystic thyroid diseases. Solid nodule and complex cyst were classified into three groups in accordance with volume reduction. In solid nodule (n = 38) and complex cyst (n=8), initial volume was significantly reduced to final volumes, and volume reduction persisted during follow-up period. Complete response, partial response and no response were as follows: 21 %, 63 %, 15 % in solid nodule; 37,5 %, 50 %, 12,5 % in complex cyst, respectively. Differences of volume reduction according to initial volume (>10 mL vs <10 mL) were significant. Correlation between initial and final volumes, and between initial volume and volume reduction were also significant. Complications were developed in 10,5 % of patients but there were not permanent complications. In conclusion, our data suggest that PEI therapy could be an effective and safe therapeutic modality for benign nodular and cystic thyroid diseases especially when initial volume is more than 10 mL.