Simple renal cysts are common benign kidney lesions. While most remain asymptomatic, larger cysts can cause flank pain, hematuria, or obstructive symptoms. CT-guided percutaneous foam sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive method gaining traction as a first-line therapy. This prospective study evaluates the safety, efficacy, recurrence rate, and need for surgical intervention using sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) as the sclerosing agent.

All patients presenting with symptomatic simple (Bosniak Type 1) Cyst who satisfied the inclusion criteria and underwent CT-guided percutaneous foam sclerotherapy were included in the study. For sclerotherapy, foam sclerosant was prepared by mixing 3% STS with air in a 1:4 ratio using the Tessari method. After cyst fluid aspiration under CT guidance, the foam was instilled into the cyst cavity. Patients were assessed prospectively for intra operative and post operative complications. Follow-up assessments, including imaging and symptom scoring, were done at 1, 3, and 6 months post procedure.

A total of 26 patients underwent successful CT-guided STS foam sclerotherapy.(15 males, 11 females; mean age 56 ± 11 years). 21 patients (80.8%) demonstrated significant cyst volume reduction (>70%) and complete or near-complete resolution of symptoms at 6 months. 4 patients (15.4%) showed cyst recurrence; 3 underwent a repeat sclerotherapy session, and 1 required surgical cyst deroofing. In total, 2 patients (7.7%) required deroofing—one for recurrence, and one for inadequate response.No significant adverse events (e.g., infection, hemorrhage, allergic reaction) were reported.

CT-guided percutaneous foam sclerotherapy using STS is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure for treating symptomatic simple renal cysts. It achieves high rates of symptom relief and cyst resolution with a low recurrence rate and limited need for surgical intervention.