Conjunctival Retention Cysts: Outcomes of Aspiration and Sclerotherapy With Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate

Purpose: To assess the outcome of aspiration and sclerotherapy with sodium tetradecyl sulfate in the management of conjunctival inclusion cysts. Methods: Retrospective interventional case series of 6 patients with clinical diagnosis of conjunctival inclusion cysts treated with cyst aspiration and foam sclerotherapy with 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate. The volume of the sclerosant was 20% of the aspirated cyst volume. Results: Four patients had an inclusion cyst in anophthalmic sockets and 2 patients in sighted eyes. Average time lag between primary surgery and cyst formation was 14.6 months (range 2–30 months). Average amount of fluid aspirated from cyst was 3.07 ml (range 1–9 ml). Average volume of sclerosant injected was (20% of the aspirated volume) 0.55 ml (range 0.2–1.1 ml). All 6 patients showed complete resolution of cyst at a mean follow-up period of 15.6 months (range 9–24 months). All but one showed complete resolution of cyst with single injection sclerosant. Only 1 patient required a second sclerosant injection. There was no ocular surface or implant-related complications in this cohort. Conclusions: Cyst aspiration and sodium tetradecyl sulfate foam sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure for the management of conjunctival inclusion cysts in anophthalmic sockets and sighted eyes. The injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate in a dose of 20% of the aspirate is effective in the management of conjunctival inclusion cysts over a follow-up period of 13 months. The procedure is safe, with insignificant inflammation and without ocular surface or implant complications. Accepted for publication June 22, 2018. This study is funded by the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Tarjani Vivek Dave, M.D., L V Prasad Eye Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, Telangana, India. E-mail: tvdeye@gmail.com © 2018 by The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc., All rights reserved.