Procedures

In otherwise healthy, afebrile adults, blood tests are not necessary to evaluate an uncomplicated abscess or cyst.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing should be available at the request of the patient; however, Bartholin abscesses are very rarely caused by sexually transmitted pathogens.

Cultures are rarely useful in treatment of abscess; furthermore, routine culturing of drained fluid is not recommended.

The following features are suggestive of Bartholin gland malignancy. Patients who present with any of these features should be referred to a gynecologist for biopsy:

Age older than 40 years
Chronic or gradually progressive, painless mass
Solid, nonfluctuant, painless mass
Prior history of labial malignancy

Treatment & Management

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Media Gallery

Word catheter. (Image courtesy of Dr. Gil Shlamovitz.)
Word catheter with inflated balloon. (Image courtesy of Dr. Gil Shlamovitz.)
Bartholin abscess. (Image courtesy of Dr. Gil Shlamovitz.)

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Author

Antonia Quinn, DO Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center; Assistant Residency Director, Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Antonia Quinn, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Richard H Sinert, DO Professor of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Research Director, State University of New York College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Vice-Chair in Charge of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center

Richard H Sinert, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Erik D Schraga, MD Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mills-Peninsula Emergency Medical Associates

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Joseph J Sachter, MD, FACEP Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center

Joseph J Sachter, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Association for Physician Leadership, American Medical Association, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Howard A Blumstein, MD, FAAEM Assistant Professor of Surgery, Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Howard A Blumstein, MD, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Emergency Medicine Residents Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

M Tyson Pillow, MD Assistant Director of Medical Education, Ben Taub General Hospital Emergency Center; Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine

M Tyson Pillow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Air Medical Physician Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Student Association/Foundation, Emergency Medicine Residents Association, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Student National Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jennifer Coles Schecter, MD Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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