Bartholin cyst

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Tends to be soft, <2 cm in diameter, superficial, and smooth.[18]Omole F, Kelsey RC, Phillips K, et al. Bartholin duct cyst and gland abscess: office management. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jun 15;99(12):760-6. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0615/p760.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31194482?tool=bestpractice.com

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Usually follows trauma or intraoperative bleeding. Extravasated blood may expand in the loose areolar tissue of the labia and cause considerable swelling. This tense swelling is exquisitely painful.[19]Hill DA, Lense JJ. Office management of Bartholin gland cysts and abscesses. Am Fam Physician. 1998 Apr 1;57(7):1611-6, 1619-20. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/1998/0401/p1611.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9556648?tool=bestpractice.com [20]Black MM, McKay M, Braude PR, et al. Obstetric and gynecologic dermatology. 2nd ed. London, UK: Mosby; 2002:175-81.

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Firm, not cystic, may develop pedicle, asymptomatic lesion typically occurring on the labia majora, perineal body, or introitus.[18]Omole F, Kelsey RC, Phillips K, et al. Bartholin duct cyst and gland abscess: office management. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jun 15;99(12):760-6. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0615/p760.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31194482?tool=bestpractice.com [19]Hill DA, Lense JJ. Office management of Bartholin gland cysts and abscesses. Am Fam Physician. 1998 Apr 1;57(7):1611-6, 1619-20. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/1998/0401/p1611.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9556648?tool=bestpractice.com

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Skin-colored, soft, fatty tumor of the subcutaneous tissue; typically asymptomatic and slow growing.[20]Black MM, McKay M, Braude PR, et al. Obstetric and gynecologic dermatology. 2nd ed. London, UK: Mosby; 2002:175-81.[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Vulval lipomaFrom the personal collection of Colleen Kennedy Stockdale [Citation ends].

Usually in the labia majora, and further lipomas may be found on lower abdomen or thighs.[18]Omole F, Kelsey RC, Phillips K, et al. Bartholin duct cyst and gland abscess: office management. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jun 15;99(12):760-6. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0615/p760.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31194482?tool=bestpractice.com

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Cystic swelling in the inguinal crease or anterior labia majora. Not crossed by the labium minus.

Arises from remnants of peritoneum as it passes through the inguinal canal, so cysts may occur anywhere along the path of the inguinal canal or within the labia majora.

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

These tend to be asymptomatic, small, and multiple, grouped together on the labia majora.[18]Omole F, Kelsey RC, Phillips K, et al. Bartholin duct cyst and gland abscess: office management. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jun 15;99(12):760-6. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0615/p760.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31194482?tool=bestpractice.com

May have a yellowish appearance and feel firm and knobbly.[20]Black MM, McKay M, Braude PR, et al. Obstetric and gynecologic dermatology. 2nd ed. London, UK: Mosby; 2002:175-81.

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Tends to present in older women (>50 years) as an irregular nodular vulval mass, with or without ulcerations.[3]Dennerstein G, Scurry J, Brenan J, et al. The vulva & vagina manual. Moonee Ponds, Australia: Gynederm Publishing; 2005:234.[12]Marzano DA, Haefner HK. The Bartholin gland cyst: past, present, and future. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2004 Jul;8(3):195-204. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15874863?tool=bestpractice.com [Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Squamous cell cancerFrom the personal collection of Colleen Kennedy Stockdale [Citation ends].