Comparison of ethanol and hypertonic saline as a single ıntracystic agent in the percutaneous treatment of liver hydatid cysts

Purpose In this study, the effects of hypertonic saline and ethanol as a single intracystic agents in the percutaneous treatment of liver hydatid cysts were compared. Methods The 50 patients were separated into two groups as those administered 30% hypertonic saline alone as the intracystic agent in percutaneous treatment (33 patients, 52 cysts), and those administered 96% ethanol alone (17 patients, 26 cysts). Both groups were compared in terms of percentage of cyst volume reduction, complications, and treatment success. Results The follow-up period was median 17.0 months (11.0–20.0) in the ethanol group and 17.0 (14.0–22.0) in the hypertonic saline group ( p = 0.269). Complications were observed in 5 (19.2%) cysts applied with ethanol as the intracystic agent and in 7 (13.5%) of the cysts where hypertonic saline was used ( p = 0.521). Clinical success was evaluated as 100% in both groups. The percentage of cyst volume reduction according to the initial volume was determined as mean 75.6 ± 20.43 (28.19–98.13) in the ethanol group cysts and as 68.2 ± 16.45 (26.39–97.48) in the hypertonic saline group ( p = 0.427). Conclusion The results of this study demonstrated similar efficacy of hypertonic saline and ethanol in the percutaneous treatment of CE1 and CE3A liver hydatid cysts. These results suggest that the use of hypertonic saline as a single intracystic agent in the percutaneous treatment of CE1 and CE3A liver hydatid cysts provides sufficient efficacy of treatment and cyst volume reduction. Nevertheless, there is a need for further prospective, randomized studies to support these findings.