# Viscosity-Augmented Percutaneous Sclerotherapy for Recurrent Thoracic Spinal Aneurysmal Bone Cyst: A Technical Innovation to Mitigate Venous Washout

**Authors:** Harsh Agrawal, Saktthi Shanmuganathan, Naresh Kumar, Anil Gopinathan

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.103014 · Cureus · 2026-02-05

## TL;DR

A new injection technique improved treatment of a recurring spinal bone cyst by reducing venous washout and promoting healing.

## Contribution

A thickened sclerosant mixture was introduced to reduce rapid washout during percutaneous sclerotherapy for aneurysmal bone cyst recurrence.

## Key findings

- A thick sclerosant mixture reduced venous washout and improved treatment outcomes in a recurrent thoracic spinal ABC.
- The modified technique led to new bone formation and stabilization of the lesion over two years.
- The technique is easy to reproduce and based on logical problem-solving in interventional radiology.

## Abstract

A 27-year-old male was operated on for a thoracic seven-vertebra aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). On the six-year follow-up, he had radiological signs of recurrence. Treatment plan for recurrence was multiple sessions of percutaneous intralesional sclerotherapy with 3% of sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS). The remarkable vascularity of the lesion resulted in rapid washout of the sclerosant mixture. Henceforth, an improvised technique was used in the third attempt. A thick sclerosant mixture injectate consisting of 3 ml of 3% STS mixed with 2 ml of gelatin sponge slurry (EG Gel 350-650 micron) and 2 ml of computed tomography (CT) contrast was used. At the six-month follow-up, there was new bone formation along the margins of the lytic lesion. The patient received two more sessions of the same injectate. At the two-year follow-up, the lesion showed no expansion of the lytic area with further increase in sclerosis. Modification of the injection technique with the use of a thick sclerosant mixture reduced the washout time. This case report describes the easy reproducibility of the technique and the simple logical problem-solving method, which is fundamental to Interventional radiology.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** sodium tetradecyl sulphate (PubChem CID 23665772)
- **Diseases:** aneurysmal bone cyst (MONDO:0018815)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** F2 (coagulation factor II, thrombin) [NCBI Gene 2147] {aka PT, RPRGL2, THPH1}
- **Diseases:** ABCs (MESH:C579754), canal stenosis (MESH:D003251), vascular malformations (MESH:D054079), lytic lesion (MESH:D009059), sclerosis (MESH:D012598), blood loss (MESH:D016063), neurological complications (MESH:D002493), tumor (MESH:D009369), vascular lesion (MESH:D014652), bone tumors (MESH:D001859), pain (MESH:D010146), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), trauma (MESH:D014947), cyst (MESH:D003560), tenderness (MESH:D063806), SAE (MESH:D004617), bone defect (MESH:D001847), numbness (MESH:D006987), COVID (MESH:D000086382), upper back pain (MESH:D001416), ABC (MESH:D017824), thrombotic occlusion (MESH:D013927), vertebral collapse (MESH:D001261)
- **Chemicals:** absolute alcohol (MESH:D000431), fentanyl (MESH:D005283), STS (MESH:D012981), midazolam (MESH:D008874), doxycycline (MESH:D004318), cellulose (MESH:D002482), polidocanol (MESH:D000077423), oxidized (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

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## References

18 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12966996/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12966996