Incidental Finding of a Skene Gland Cyst in the Emergency Department

A Skene gland cyst is one of several benign anterior wall masses that may not be identified until a woman's first pelvic examination. The Skene gland cyst may confound emergency provider's differential diagnosis if the female patient presents with gynecological or urologic complaints. A patient with a Skene gland cyst is presented in this article. The purpose of this case study is to review information about the Skene gland to enable emergency providers to identify and consider the Skene gland cyst or abscess in the list of differential diagnoses for urological and gynecological symptoms or as an incidental finding that has no relationship to the presenting complaint. Accurate diagnosis of a Skene gland cyst, infected cyst, or another anterior vaginal wall mass allows the emergency provider to decide whether any immediate treatment is needed and appropriate gynecological referral for definitive treatment.