Ann Dermatol.  2024 Jun;36(3):180-185. 10.5021/ad.23.131.

Efficacy of Bleomycin Intralesional Injection for Treating Digital Mucous Cysts: A Comparative Study of Corticosteroid Intralesional Injection and Surgical Excision

• Kim YJ
• Lee HM
• Cho JH
• Kim DH
• Ahn HH
• Seo SH

• KMID: 2568509
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.23.131

Abstract

Background
Sclerotherapy has shown superior efficacy among the nonsurgical options for managing digital mucous cysts (DMC). Notably, previous research has indicated that bleomycin offers a more favorable side-effect profile and similar efficacy to conventional sclerosing agents.
Objective
This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of bleomycin intralesional injection (ILI) for treating DMC through a comparative analysis of corticosteroid ILI and surgical excision.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records and clinical photographs. Telephone interviews were conducted to further investigate long-term treatment efficacy, safety, and overall treatment satisfaction.
Results
Ten patients underwent surgical excision, and 13 and 15 patients received bleomycin and corticosteroid ILI, respectively. Both surgical excision and bleomycin ILI demonstrated superior treatment efficacy compared to corticosteroid ILI. No statistically significant difference in the treatment effectiveness between surgical excision and bleomycin ILI was observed. No significant adverse effects were observed. In the survey, the level of satisfaction was the highest for bleomycin ILI, followed by surgical excision and corticosteroid ILI.
Conclusion
This study revealed that bleomycin ILI exhibits a treatment efficacy higher than that of corticosteroid ILI and slightly lower than that of surgical excision, without any side effects. Therefore, bleomycin ILI is a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of DMC.

Keyword

Bleomycin; Cysts; Fingers; Ganglion cyst; Intralesional injection; Mucocele