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AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL SUCCESSFULLY TREATS SKENE’S GLAND CYST – A RARE TUMOR IN THE FEMALE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL SUCCESSFULLY TREATS SKENE’S GLAND CYST – A RARE TUMOR IN THE FEMALE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM

04/07/2025

At the American International Hospital (AIH), doctors in the Department of Nephro-Urology recently successfully treated a case of Skene's gland cyst – a rare condition in the female genital organs, often overlooked due to its atypical presentation, and easily confused with other gynecological or urological conditions.

Patient H.C.P (40 years old), presented for examination at AIH due to multiple episodes of prolonged urinary tract infections, difficulty urinating, and especially, significant discomfort during sexual intercourse. In addition, she also noticed the appearance of a prolapsed mass protruding from the vagina - perineum during physical activity, which greatly affected her life, especially in her marital life.

After clinical examination, the doctor noted a 2 cm cystic mass on the left side of the external urethral orifice, which was painless and without discharge. This was also accompanied by a sign of posterior vaginal wall prolapse. Subsequently, the patient underwent a pelvic MRI, which showed imaging results consistent with the clinical diagnosis of a Skene's gland cyst pressing on the urethra.

picture1-7.jpeg
MRI image suggestive of Skene's gland cyst: increased T1 signal, may be complicated by hemorrhagic or protein-rich, mucoid (superinfected) components, adjacent to the left urethral meatus (2 o'clock-6 o'clock position), compressing the left urethral wall.

The patient was indicated for surgery involving edge excision of the Skene's gland cyst combined with posterior vaginal wall repair (after consultation with gynecologists at AIH). During the surgery, the surgeons dissected the Skene's gland cyst and applied the technique of cyst edge excision and suturing (marsupialization). The surgeons also noted cloudy mucous fluid inside the cyst, a sign indicating possible previous infection of the gland cyst. The fluid sample was sent for microbiological testing, while the cyst mass was sent for pathological examination to determine the nature of the lesion. The results confirmed this was a benign Skene's gland cyst.

The postsurgical stage of marsupialization  and posterior vaginal wall repair was favorable, the patient was discharged after 4 days. 01-month, 03-month, 06-month follow-up revealed good recovery, with no recurrence of the initial presenting symptoms such as urinary tract infection and discomfort during sexual intercourse.


What is Skene’s gland cyst?

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Tien, M.D, Head of the Nephrology - Urology - Andrology Department, Senior Medical Counsellor at AIH, and also the primary surgeon for the patient, stated: the Skene's gland is a gland located near the urethra that functions to secrete lubricating mucus during sexual activity, and is the glands in women that are analogous to the prostate gland in men. Skene's gland cyst is a rare condition in women, accounting for 1-2% of urethral and vestibular cysts in women, often presenting as an asymptomatic 'mass' near the urethra. However, in many cases, the cysts can cause symptoms such as difficulty urinating, pollakiuria, recurrent urinary tract infections, especially discomfort and obstruction, and even reduce pleasure due to psychological factors in sexual activity. At the same time, the disease is easily confused with other gynecological or urological problems such as tumors in the vagina near the urethra or urethral diverticula.

The case of patient H.C.P is a typical example showing that symptoms such as urinary tract infection or discomfort during sexual intercourse, if not properly assessed, can cause the patient to suffer silently for a long time. Thanks to the accurate diagnosis, the patient was indicated for surgery to remove the edge of the cyst, a simple, quick, effective treatment with few complications, commented Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Tien.

Do not ignore the unusual signs

Skene's gland cysts; if not detected early and managed correctly, they can worsen, seriously affecting women's quality of life. In some cases, this condition can also negatively affect female sexual function.

When the cyst grows large or causes many complex complications, prolonged urinary tract infections obstruct and compress the urethra, causing difficulty urinating, and retained urine further exacerbates the urinary tract infection. In these cases, surgery becomes mandatory; surgery is usually quick, with few complications, a short hospital stay, and a very early recovery time.

Therefore, if you experience one or more of the following symptoms, proactively seek medical attention for timely assessment: 

  • Difficulty urinating, prolonged frequent urination with an unknown reason. 

  • Recurrent urinary tract infections. 

  • Burning pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse. 

  • Discover an unusual mass, abnormally prolapse in the vaginovulvar area.
     

Proactive examination and early detection are very important in determining the correct cause, thereby enabling early diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment method. This not only helps to effectively control the disease but also significantly improves the quality of life and brings peace of mind and confidence to the patient.
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For checkup and consultation at AIH:
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🌏 Website: www.aih.com.vn
📍Address: (Entrance from 199 Nguyen Hoang Street) No.6, Bac Nam 3 Street, Binh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh
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