Experience with the diagnosis and management of paraurethral cysts in adult women.

OBJECTIVE

There is no consensus on diagnosis and treatment of paraurethral cyst which is a rare benign cystic neoplasm. We present our experience to describe diagnosis and management of paraurethral cysts in adult women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten women were diagnosed with paraurethral cysts. Cysto-urethroscopy was performed on all patients to rule out urethral diverticulum just before surgery. All patients underwent surgical excision. Symptoms, parity, diagnostic tests, complications, recurrence and histologic examination of the cysts wall were analyzed in all patients.

RESULTS

The presenting symptoms were sensation of a mass, dyspareunia, and dysuria. All of the patients were multipareous. The cysts were diagnosed by physical examination and cysto-urethroscopy in most of the patients. Transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging was performed in only one patient. All patients healed without complication and no sign of recurrent cyst formation was observed in any of our patients at follow-up. Histologically, the cyst wall was composed of squamous epithelium in eight patients and squamous epithelium with transitional epithelium in two patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of paraurethral cyst can be diagnosed by PE and cysto-urethroscopy. Noninvasive diagnostic tests such as TVUS or MRI can be used for ruling out urethral diverticula or other urogenital abnormalities if needed. Surgical excision is an effective treatment modality for paraurethral cyst in adult women.