Differential Diagnosis for Recurrent Cyst on Left Labia
The patient presents with a recurrent cyst on the left labia, which has been ongoing for years, with the current episode lasting three weeks. The cyst is 1.5 cm, not fluctuant, and the patient denies any pain or fever. Given this clinical presentation, the following differential diagnoses are considered:
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Bartholin's cyst: This is the most likely diagnosis given the location (labia), size, and the fact that it's not fluctuant. Bartholin's cysts are common in women of reproductive age and can be recurrent.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Epidermal inclusion cyst: These cysts can occur on the vulva and are usually benign. They can be similar in presentation to Bartholin's cysts but are less likely to be recurrent in the same location.
- Mucous cyst: Although less common on the labia, mucous cysts can occur and present similarly to Bartholin's cysts.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Although rare, any vulvar mass should be evaluated for the possibility of malignancy, especially in the absence of typical symptoms of a benign cyst.
- Vulvar abscess: While the patient denies fever and pain, an abscess could present with minimal symptoms initially and is a critical diagnosis not to miss due to the potential for rapid progression and complications.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Adnexal tumor: Tumors of the adnexal structures (such as the sebaceous glands) can present as cystic masses on the vulva but are less common.
- Vulvar hidradenoma: A rare, benign tumor that can present as a cystic mass on the vulva.
Each of these diagnoses should be considered in the context of the patient's overall clinical presentation, and further evaluation, potentially including a referral to a gynecologist as requested, is necessary to determine the exact cause of the recurrent cyst.