Epidermal clitoral inclusion cyst after type I female genital mutilation.

OBJECTIVE

To document the occurrence of long-term sequelae after type I female genital mutilation (FGM) and describe the surgical treatment of epidermal clitoral inclusion cyst.

STUDY

DESIGN

Twenty-one women presented with epidermal clitoral inclusion cyst after type I FGM at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The duration (mean +/- SD, range) of symptoms was 10.3 +/- 5.4, 2 to 20 years. They were treated by excision of the cyst with particular attention to preserve the remaining part of the clitoris. The technique involves making a vertical incision in the skin, dissecting and excising the cyst, removing the excessive skin, and reapproximating the skin edges.

RESULTS

The procedure was done on all patients without intraoperative complications. All except one were discharged home on the second postoperative day. Follow-up showed no recurrence of symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Long-term sequelae can occur after type I FGM. The surgical treatment of clitoral inclusion cyst is simple and effective.