Abstract: Because of development and popularization of the ultrasound techniques, the detection rate of nodal thyroid has increased. Surgery is the long-established therapeutic option. However, due to the surgical trauma, complications and the effect on quality of life, various minimally invasive treatments have been proposed and widely used. A large number of foreign studies have shown that ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection is a more commonly used minimally invasive way to treat benign pure cystic and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. This article provides an up-to-date review of the overseas studies and summarized on percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of benign cystic thyroid nodules.

Key words: Percutaneous ethanol ablation, Cystic thyroid nodule, Ultrasound, Treatment