Catheter-based sclerotherapy is an effective treatment option for patients with endometrial cysts, according to a new study published in Radiology. Unlike other methods, it helps women avoid surgery and does not affect fertility.
Previous techniques used to treat endometrial cysts include surgery and needle-based sclerotherapy, but both methods present providers with significant challenges. Surgery, for example, involves removing healthy ovarian tissue, which can impact a patient’s fertility. Needle-based sclerotherapy, meanwhile, has its own limitations.
“Endometrial cyst content can be incredibly thick and sticky,” co-author Man-Deuk Kim, MD, PhD, of Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, said in a prepared statement. “A 16- or 18-gauge needle, which is commonly used for needle-directed sclerotherapy, is sometimes not large enough to completely evacuate the cyst. This may reduce the efficacy of sclerotherapy and increase the possibility of needle displacement during aspiration.”
Replacing that needle with a catheter, the researchers found, means there is no longer that risk of needle displacement. In addition, it allows the patient’s position to be changed during the procedure if necessary.
Kim and colleagues studied the use of catheter-based sclerotherapy on 14 patients with ovarian endometriomas. Overall, the cysts decreased in size by an average of 5.8 cm in diameter to 1.1 cm. The team also noted that pain was reduced in each patient, their fertility was not negatively affected by the procedure and there were no endometrioma recurrences.
“In our study, the recurrence rate of catheter-directed sclerotherapy was 0 percent, which is very encouraging given that endometriomas measuring up to 13.5 centimeters in diameter or those that had internal septation were included in the study,” Kim said in the same statement.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.