# Alcoholization as an Alternative Treatment for Prostatic Cyst and Abscess in Dogs

## TL;DR

This study explores alcoholization as a minimally invasive treatment for prostatic cysts and abscesses in dogs, showing it can be effective and safe with low complications.

## Contribution

The study contributes a detailed retrospective evaluation of alcoholization as a novel alternative to surgery for canine prostatic lesions.

## Key findings

- 76.19% of prostatic abscesses resolved within 30 days using alcoholization.
- Combined finasteride and alcoholization led to significant cyst reduction in 30 days and complete resolution in 62.5% by day 150.
- Alcoholization had a low complication rate, making it a viable option for select cases.

## Abstract

Abnormalities of the canine prostate gland, such as benign hyperplasia, cysts, and prostatic abscess, are common in old male dogs. Nowadays, the most common treatment strategies for prostatic cysts and abscesses, where feasible, include surgical approaches such as drainage, reduction and omentalization. This retrospective study describes the treatment of prostatic cysts and abscesses via ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage and alcoholization, with the aim of contributing to the limited number of cases present in the literature regarding this technique, providing our experience and detailing the procedure, outcomes, and potential side effects. The results of this study highlight alcoholization as a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods for managing a single small prostatic cavity, well surrounded by prostatic parenchyma and not communicating with the urethra. Its low complication rate makes it a viable option for select cases.

Current therapeutic approaches for prostatic cysts and abscesses involve surgical methods like reduction and omentalization. This retrospective study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage combined with alcoholization as a minimally invasive treatment for prostatic cysts and abscesses in dogs. Forty-three male dogs with a single prostatic cavity (1–6 cm) were enrolled and categorized into two groups: group A (twenty-two dogs with prostatic abscesses treated via alcoholization) and group B (twenty-one dogs with BPH-associated cysts). Group B was further subdivided into three subgroups: B1 (finasteride only), B2 (alcoholization only), and B3 (combined finasteride and alcoholization). Alcoholization involved sedation, drainage of the cavity, and two ethanol instillations (first: 1/3–1/4 of aspirated volume; second: 1/10 after 25 min). Ultrasound evaluations were performed at scheduled intervals of up to 150 days. In group A, 76.19% of abscesses were resolved within 30 days, with complete resolution in all dogs by day 150. In group B, the combined treatment (group B3) showed superior outcomes, with significant cyst diameter reduction observed in all dogs within 30 days and complete resolution in 62.5% by day 150. These findings support alcoholization as an effective, low-complication alternative to surgery for selected prostatic lesions in dogs.