Abscesses and cysts of Bartholin's gland - contemporary problems of active women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2022.12.11.033Keywords
Bartholin’s Gland, cysts, abscesses, cancer, gynecologyAbstract
Introduction and purpose:
Bartholin's glands are paired structures, playing a significant role in lubricating the vagina through the production of mucus. They are physiologically undetectable, but when their ducts are clogged, the accumulating secretion can lead to various pathologies. The most common are cysts and abscesses, the symptomatic conditions of which are the causes of nearly 2% of gynecological visits annually. Statistically, they most frequently occur in women of childbearing age, however, young age is not a rule. The aim of the study is to summarize the state of knowledge about Bartholin's gland cysts and abscesses, with an indication of the currently used therapies.
State of knowledge:
In some cases, the course of these pathologies can be asymptomatic, however, the rest of the patients may experience unpleasant symptoms and require treatment. During diagnostics, it is important to carefully collect an interview and conduct a physical examination, because in most cases on this basis it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis. However, in case of doubt, imaging tests can also be used. There may be times when patients with asymptomatic cysts may not require treatment. Nevertheless, choosing the right therapy is sometimes challenging for the clinician due to the potential risk of symptoms recurring.
Conclusion:
Although there are many different treatments available, the most commonly used appears to be marsupialization or incision and drainage with Word catheter placement. Additionally, an increasing number of articles devoted to the use of the CO2 laser can also be observed, but even it has its drawbacks. For this reason, there is still a need for further research into new methods of treatment that would ensure both good results and high comfort for the patients.
References
Lee MY, Dalpiaz A, Schwamb R, Miao Y, Waltzer W, Khan A. Clinical Pathology of Bartholin's Glands: A Review of the Literature. Curr Urol. 2015;8(1):22-25. doi:10.1159/000365683
Quaresma C, Sparzak PB. Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Bartholin Gland. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; January 24, 2022.
Yuk JS, Kim YJ, Hur JY, Shin JH. Incidence of Bartholin duct cysts and abscesses in the Republic of Korea. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2013;122(1):62-64. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.02.014
Dole DM, Nypaver C. Management of Bartholin Duct Cysts and Gland Abscesses. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2019;64(3):337-343. doi:10.1111/jmwh.12937
Lee WA, Wittler M. Bartholin Gland Cyst. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; February 2, 2022.
Pundir J, Auld BJ. A review of the management of diseases of the Bartholin's gland. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;28(2):161-165. doi:10.1080/01443610801912865
Marzano DA, Haefner HK. The bartholin gland cyst: past, present, and future. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2004;8(3):195-204. doi:10.1097/00128360-200407000-00006
Hill DS, Butterfield A. Bartholin’s gland squamous cell carcinoma, a rare vulvar neoplasm. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 2010;26:296–8. doi:10.1177/8756479310386487
Cardaillac C, Dochez V, Gueudry P, et al. Surgical management of Bartholin cysts and abscesses in French university hospitals. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2019;48(8):631-635. doi:10.1016/j.jogoh.2019.03.022
Cevik M, Savas M, Guldur ME, Boleken ME. Urinary retention as the presentation of Bartholin's duct cyst in a neonate [published correction appears in J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2012 Aug;25(4):282. Savas, Murat [removed]; Guldur, Muharrem [corrected to Guldur, Muhammed Emin]; Boleken, Mehmet emin [corrected to Boleken, Mehmet Emin]]. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2012;25(3):e65-e67. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2011.12.071
Niggli S, Bausch K, Mijuskovic B, et al. Bartholin gland cyst in a transgender male: case report of a rare occurrence. Transl Androl Urol. 2020;9(4):1773-1777. doi:10.21037/tau-20-733
Omole F, Simmons BJ, Hacker Y. Management of Bartholin's duct cyst and gland abscess. Am Fam Physician. 2003;68(1):135-140.
Felix JC, Cote RJ, Kramer EE, Saigo P, Goldman GH. Carcinomas of Bartholin's gland. Histogenesis and the etiological role of human papillomavirus. Am J Pathol. 1993;142(3):925-933.
Balepa L, Baeyens L, Nemec E, Verhas M. Premier cas de recherche du ganglion sentinelle dans un adénocarcinome de la glande de Bartholin [First detection of sentinel node in adenocarcinoma of Bartholin's gland]. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2004;33(7):649-651. doi:10.1016/s0368-2315(04)96606-9
Koc O, Sengul N, Gurel S. Perineal leiomyoma mimicking complex Bartholin mass. Int Urogynecol J. 2010;21(4):495-497. doi:10.1007/s00192-009-0998-3
Altstiel T, Coster R. Bartholin cyst presenting as inguinal hernia. S D J Med. 1993;46(1):7-8.
Elkins JM, Hamid OS, Simon LV, Sheele JM. Association of Bartholin cysts and abscesses and sexually transmitted infections. Am J Emerg Med. 2021;44:323-327. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.04.027
Kessous R, Aricha-Tamir B, Sheizaf B, Shteiner N, Moran-Gilad J, Weintraub AY. Clinical and microbiological characteristics of Bartholin gland abscesses [published correction appears in Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Dec;122(6):1308. Shteiner, Naama [corrected to Steiner, Naama]]. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(4):794-799. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182a5f0de
Berger MB, Betschart C, Khandwala N, DeLancey JO, Haefner HK. Incidental bartholin gland cysts identified on pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120(4):798-802. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182699259
Kozawa E, Irisawa M, Heshiki A, Kimura F, Shimizu Y. MR findings of a giant Bartholin's duct cyst. Magn Reson Med Sci. 2008;7(2):101-103. doi:10.2463/mrms.7.101
Eppel W, Frigo P, Worda C, Bettelheim D. Ultrasound imaging of Bartholin's cysts. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2000;49(3):179-182. doi:10.1159/000010242
Silman C, Matsumoto S, Takaji R, et al. Asymptomatic Bartholin Cyst: Evaluation With Multidetector Row Computed Tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2018;42(1):162-166. doi:10.1097/RCT.0000000000000645
Kroese JA, van der Velde M, Morssink LP, et al. Word catheter and marsupialisation in women with a cyst or abscess of the Bartholin gland (WoMan-trial): a randomised clinical trial. BJOG. 2017;124(2):243-249. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14281
Illingworth B, Stocking K, Showell M, Kirk E, Duffy J. Evaluation of treatments for Bartholin's cyst or abscess: a systematic review. BJOG. 2020;127(6):671-678. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.16079
Reif P, Ulrich D, Bjelic-Radisic V, Häusler M, Schnedl-Lamprecht E, Tamussino K. Management of Bartholin's cyst and abscess using the Word catheter: implementation, recurrence rates and costs. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2015;190:81-84. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.04.008
Long N, Morris L, Foster K. Bartholin Gland Abscess Diagnosis and Office Management. Prim Care. 2021;48(4):569-582. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2021.07.013
Hu S, Yuan Q, Zhou J, Liao X, Luo D. Comparison of the effect of different ostomies on patients with Bartholin's cyst. Am J Transl Res. 2021;13(6):6905-6912. Published 2021 Jun 15.
Aydogan Mathyk B, Aslan Cetin B, Cetin H. Sexual function after Bartholin gland abscess treatment: A randomized trial of the marsupialization and excision methods. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018;230:188-191. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.10.015
Di Donato V, Bellati F, Casorelli A, et al. CO2 laser treatment for Bartholin gland abscess: ultrasound evaluation of risk recurrence. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2013;20(3):346-352. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2012.12.003
Benedetti Panici P, Manci N, Bellati F, et al. CO2 laser therapy of the Bartholin's gland cyst: surgical data and functional short- and long-term results. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2007;14(3):348-351. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2006.10.015
de Góis Speck NM, Belfort PN, Mendes P, Kang HJ, Ribalta JC. Carbon dioxide laser treatment of Bartholin's gland cyst. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2007;34(1):50-51.
Speck NM, Boechat KP, Santos GM, Ribalta JC. Treatment of Bartholin gland cyst with CO2laser. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2016;14(1):25-29. doi:10.1590/S1679-45082016AO3568
Frega A, Schimberni M, Ralli E, et al. Complication and recurrence rate in laser CO2 versus traditional surgery in the treatment of Bartholin's gland cyst. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;294(2):303-309. doi:10.1007/s00404-016-4045-6
Wechter ME, Wu JM, Marzano D, Haefner H. Management of Bartholin duct cysts and abscesses: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2009;64(6):395-404. doi:10.1097/OGX.0b013e31819f9c76
Ozdegirmenci O, Kayikcioglu F, Haberal A. Prospective Randomized Study of Marsupialization versus Silver Nitrate Application in the Management of Bartholin Gland Cysts and Abscesses. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2009;16(2):149-152. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2008.10.006
Kushnir VA, Mosquera C. Novel technique for management of Bartholin gland cysts and abscesses. J Emerg Med. 2009;36(4):388-390. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.05.019
Omole F, Kelsey RC, Phillips K, Cunningham K. Bartholin Duct Cyst and Gland Abscess: Office Management. Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(12):760-766.
Kamilos MF, Borrelli CL, Sciuto R, et al. Is electrosurgery fulguration a better procedure for Bartholin's gland cyst?. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2020;66(2):201-209. doi:10.1590/1806-9282.66.2.201
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Kinga Panuciak, Angelika Mastalerczyk, Emilia Nowicka, Karolina Makowska, Michał Obel, Jan Lejman, Kamila Czyżak, Wiktor Wiśniewski
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The periodical offers access to content in the Open Access system under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 630
Number of citations: 0