Carbon-dioxide laser vaporization of the Bartholin gland cyst: a retrospective analysis on 200 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of carbon-dioxide laser vaporization as definitive treatment for Bartholin gland cyst.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 200 patients with monolateral or bilateral Bartholin gland cyst.


METHODS
A standardized technique of cyst vaporization performed by carbon-dioxide laser in outpatient setting and local anesthesia.


RESULTS
Records of all patients were reviewed for anamnestic information, anatomic parameters, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, and follow-up data. Seven patients having bilateral cyst were treated in a single session; 207 procedures were performed. The cyst mean size was 6.3 +/- 2.3 cm (95% CI 5.93-6.67). All treatments were completed in outpatient regimen and local anesthesia with a median operative time of 17 minutes (range: 7-45). Three (1.5%) cases of intraoperative major bleeding were observed. The cure rate of a single laser treatment was 95.7%. The 9 patients with recurrent disease observed during follow-up underwent carbon-dioxide laser reintervention by the same therapeutic strategy with a 100% cure rate after 2 or 3 treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Carbon-dioxide laser vaporization of Bartholin gland cyst represents a safe and effective procedure with complete healing and positive follow-up outcomes. Further randomized trials should be conducted to confirm these findings and to establish the best surgical strategy.
Fambrini
Massimiliano
M
Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Human Reproduction, University of Florence, Italy.
Penna
Carlo
C
Pieralli
Annalisa
A
Fallani
Maria Grazia
MG
Andersson
Karin L
KL
Lozza
Virginia
V
Scarselli
Gianfranco
G
Marchionni
Mauro
M
D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D001472:Bartholin's Glands / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome