Post Genital Mutilation Large Clitoral Cyst: A Case Report and Literature Review

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is still performed in some regions of Africa and Asia. Health consequences of female circumcision (FC) depend on the type of mutilation and are associated with serious life-threatening conditions or with long-term complications like clitoral cysts, Epidermal inclusion cysts develop several years after FC and it can involve clitoris, vulva or vagina. This study aims to report a case of large clitoral epidermal inclusion cyst in a female adult as a complication of circumcision in younger age. A short review of recent literature as health problems of multiethnic society is presented.

We report a case of 45 years old Nigerian woman with non-tender, no warm rounded cystic mass, in periclitoral area, several years after genital circumcision. A surgical resection of the cysts was performed. Histology confirmed an epidermal inclusion dermoid cyst.

The diagnosis of a large clitoral epidermal inclusion cyst and the feasibility of a surgical excision. The surgical procedure to remove the clitoral epidermal inclusion cyst as consequence of FC is simple. No complications and recurrences were observed.

FGM has recently attracted a lot of medical and public interest. Large clitoral cysts are the most common tardive complications after FC which can be easily removed. All major medical organizations have condemned the practice and have considered it a violation of human rights.