Experiences with the management of paraurethral cysts in adult women

INTRODUCTION: Paraurethral cysts may be acquired or congenital pathology, and are rarely encountered in urogynecologic practice. Therefore, no consensus on management of paraurethral cyst could be reached. We aimed to report our experience on the management of paraurethral cysts in adult women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on adult women diagnosed with paraurethral cysts between 2011 and 2012. Patients’ complaints, parity, physical signs, diagnostic tests and the obtained findings, surgical intervention, duration of follow–up period, complications, recurrence and histologic examination of the cysts wall were evaluated in the patients included. RESULTS: Ten adult women, aged 23–48 years (mean: 41 years) with paraurethral cysts between 2011 and 2012 were identified. All patients were multiparous. The patients’ complaints included palpable mass, dyspareunia, and dysuria. All patients underwent preoperative urethrocystoscopy. All the cysts were solitary and in dimension of 1 to 3.5 cm and localized in the distal urethra. All patients underwent surgical excision. The mean follow–up period was 8 months (range: 6–12 months). Neither complications nor recurrences were observed. Histopathological examination showed that 5 cysts were lined with squamous epithelium, 2 were lined with transitional epithelium, and 3 were lined with both types of epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Paraurethral cysts may be symptomatic and routine urological examinations are sufficient for diagnosis without using advanced imaging technique. In such symptomatic adult patients, partial surgical resection combined with fulguration can be performed effectively without complications. This treatment modality seems exceptional according to the literature.