title: Incidental bartholin gland cysts identified on pelvic magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of Bartholin gland cysts in asymptomatic women serving as control participants who underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of research studies. The secondary aim was to investigate potential demographic characteristics associated with Bartholin gland cysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pelvic MRIs from 430 control participants enrolled in five research projects were evaluated. All images were evaluated by at least two authors. The presence, laterality, and size of Bartholin gland cysts were recorded. Demographic information for each participant was obtained at the time of enrollment in the respective parent study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 3% of the participants had visible Bartholin gland cysts on MRI scans. Fifty percent of the cysts were identified on the right side, 42.9% were seen on the left side, and 7.1% were bilateral. The cysts were, on average, 1.3×1.2×1.3 cm with dimensions ranging from 0.5 to 2.7 cm. There were no demographic differences between women with and without visible Bartholin gland cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bartholin gland cysts occur in 3% of adult women. The cysts affect women of broad ranges of age and parity. Women with visible Bartholin gland cysts are demographically similar to women without cysts on pelvic imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Pelvic Floor Research Group, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5276, USA. mitchberg@umich.edu
authors.forename: Mitchell B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betschart
authors.forename: Nikhila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khandwala
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: DeLancey
authors.forename: Hope K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Haefner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001472:Bartholin's Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D015995:Prevalence; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*