The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided interventional
therapy in the treatment of postoperative recurrent chocolate
cysts. The 198 patients enrolled in this study were divided into three groups. In group 1, the saline washing group, the cavity of the
cyst was washed thoroughly with warm saline. In group 2, the
ethanol short-time retention group, after washing with saline, the
cyst was injected with 95%
ethanol with a volume of half of the fluid aspirated from the
cyst. Ten minutes later, the rest of the
ethanol was aspirated. In group 3, the
ethanol retention group, the procedures were the same as with the
ethanol short-time retention group, except that 95% of the
ethanol was retained in the
cyst. An ultrasound examination was performed in the third, sixth and 12th months after
therapy. The chocolate
cyst cure rate was significantly higher in the
ethanol retention group (96%, 66/69) than in the
ethanol short-time retention group (82%, 56/68) and no case was cured in the first group (saline washing). We conclude that ultrasound-guided injection and 95%
ethanol retention are an effective
therapy for the treatment of postoperative recurrent chocolate
cysts.