A CASE OF GIANT RENAL CYSTS TREATED WITH ETHANOL INSTILLATION

This paper describes a case of giant renal cysts successfully treated with ethanol instillation. A 71-year-old male was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal distention. An ultrasonogram revealed a cystic mass in the right upper abdomen. Computed tomography revealed a giant cyst with leftward compression of the right kidney. Drip infusion pyelography showed the marked shift of the right kidney to the left side. Right renal angiography revealed no tumor stain, but showed a left forward shift of the right renal artery. From these findings, the patient was diagnosed as having a giant cyst of the right kidney. Ultrasonic-guided puncture of the right renal cyst was performed, and 3250ml of the contents of the large cyst was aspirated. Radiographs of the cyst with contrast medium revealed no extravasation outside the cyst. The instillatioin of 95% ethanol (500ml) was performed for 20 minutes, and all the ethanol was withdrawn. A left renal cyst (330ml) was then treated with 100ml of 95% ethanol. Two other smaller renal cysts were observed in the patient, but were not treated. The two renal cysts treated with ethanol decreased in size after the treatment, especially the giant cyst, which decreased to a diameter of only 5cm. There was no recurrence over a period of 3 years. Then, the patient died of another disease.