TUESDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided injection of ethanol and paclitaxel appears to be a safe and relatively effective method for treatment of cystic lesions of the pancreas (CLPs), resulting in a 62 percent complete resolution rate, according to research published in the January issue of Gastroenterology.
Hyoung-Chul Oh, M.D., of the Chung-Ang University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues analyzed outcomes for 47 patients with CLPs who received EUS-guided injection and lavage of ethanol followed by injection of paclitaxel into cysts. The researchers followed the patients for more than 12 months to investigate treatment response and predictors.
During the median follow-up period of 21.7 months, the researchers observed a complete response in 29 patients (62 percent), a partial response in six, and persistent cysts in 12 (four of whom underwent surgery). EUS diameter and original cyst volume were predictive of resolution in a univariate analysis, though multivariate analysis found only original volume predictive.
"EUS-guided injection and lavage of ethanol, followed by injection of paclitaxel, appears to be a safe method for treating pancreatic cysts; 62 percent of patients had complete resolution. Small cyst volume predicted complete resolution," the authors write.
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