Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous polidocanol sclerotherapy and laparoscopic deroofing in the management of pediatric symptomatic simple renal cysts (SRCs). Methods: Forty-six patients with symptomatic SRCs (cyst size ≥4 cm) were treated either with polidocanol sclerotherapy (group A) or by laparoscopic deroofing (group B) between December 2009 and October 2019. The patients were reevaluated at 1, 6, and 12 months and annually thereafter. Results: Twenty-one patients were treated with polidocanol sclerotherapy (group A) and 25 patients with laparoscopic deroofing (group B). The mean follow-up period was 58.7 months (14-107) in group A and 57.2 months (12-118) in group B. Complete regression was seen in 19 (90.5%) and 24 (96%) patients in groups A and B, respectively (p < 0.05). Partial regression was documented in one patient each in group A (4.8%) and B (4%). In one group A patient, a laparoscopic deroofing was performed due to sclerotherapy failure after 27 months. The operation time, postoperative hospital stay, and cost were significantly less in group A than in group B (36.3 ± 8.4 vs 96.9 ± 19.1, 19.7 ± 2.4 vs 56.0 ± 8.6, and ¥8173 ± 1343 vs ¥14,119 ± 2021, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Polidocanol sclerotherapy and laparoscopic deroofing were found to be equally effective interventions associated with minimal complications for pediatric symptomatic SRCs. We recommend polidocanol sclerotherapy as the first option for children with symptomatic SRCs and laparoscopic deroofing in cases of failed polidocanol sclerotherapy.
Keywords: children; laparoscopic treatment; polidocanol; sclerotherapy; simple renal cyst.