Sclerotherapy of Pelvic Lymphocele with Povidone-iodine and Ethanol

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transcatheter sclerotherapy using povidone-iodine andethanol for the treatment of postoperative pelvic lymphoceles MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 andApril 1998, 22 lymphoceles in 21 women who had under-gone pelvic surgery were subjected to percutaneoustranscatheter sclerotherapy using povidone-iodine and ethanol. Biochemical and cytological examination revealedthat 16 lymphoceles were sterile and six were in-fected. The diameter of lymphoceles varied between 3 and 20(average; 7.9 cm) and the initial volume of drainage ranged from 10ml to 1200ml. When the amount of drainagedecreased to less than 5 -10 ml/day and when the lymphocele was collapsed on follow-up sinography, the catheterwas removed. By means of sonog-raphy, all patients were followed up. The duration of this ranged from 1 month to 3years 4 months (average, 18 months). RESULTS: After percutaneous transcatheter sclerotherapy, 21 of 22lymphoceles were seen to have collapsed. Three lymphoceles recurred during the follow-up period. Eventually 18 of22 lymphoceles (82 %) were suc-cessfully treated, without recurrence. The duration of catheter drainage rangedfrom 3 to 15 (average, 8.6) days. CONCLUSION: Because of its high initial success rate, low rate of recurrence,and the short duration of catheter drainage, percutaneous transcatheter sclerotherapy using povidone-iodine andethanol is thought to be an ef-fective treatment for postoperative pelvic lymphoceles.