Topics

Topic

design image
Skene’s gland (paraurethral glands)

Skene’s glands, also known as paraurethral glands or the female prostate, are paired glands located in the anterior vaginal wall near the distal urethra. They open into the urethra through Skene’s ducts and play a role in lubrication and possibly female ejaculation. Their clinical importance lies in infections, cysts, and rare neoplasms that may affect them, which are increasingly detectable through pelvic imaging.

Synonyms

  • Paraurethral glands

  • Female prostate

  • Skene’s paraurethral ducts

Location and Boundaries

  • Anteriorly: Pubic symphysis

  • Posteriorly: Vaginal wall

  • Laterally: Urethral meatus and periurethral tissue

  • Superiorly: Distal urethra, where ducts open into the urethral lumen

Relations

  • Located on either side of the distal urethra

  • Closely related to the anterior vaginal wall

  • Ducts open into the urethra, near the external urethral meatus

Function

  • Secrete mucus for lubrication of urethral opening

  • May contribute to female ejaculation

  • Produce fluid with antibacterial properties, thought to protect lower urinary tract

  • Act as the female homolog of the male prostate gland

Clinical Significance

  • Skene’s gland cysts: Result from duct obstruction; may cause periurethral mass or urinary symptoms

  • Infection (skeneitis): May mimic urinary tract infection with dysuria, frequency, or discharge

  • Neoplasms: Rare, but adenocarcinoma or squamous carcinoma may arise from Skene’s gland

  • Surgical relevance: Important to recognize cysts or abscesses during gynecologic or urologic procedures

  • Imaging importance: May be confused with urethral diverticula or other periurethral lesions

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • No fluid: Glands may not be visible; paraurethral tissue shows low-to-intermediate signal

  • Simple fluid (cyst): Low signal intensity

  • Proteinaceous or hemorrhagic content: Bright signal intensity

  • Fat: Bright, outlining adjacent soft tissues

T2-weighted images:

  • No fluid: Glands indistinct; paraurethral soft tissue shows intermediate signal

  • Simple cyst: Bright signal intensity

  • Complex cyst/abscess: Mixed bright and dark areas

  • Fat: Intermediate-to-bright signal intensity

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • No fluid: Glands not visible, surrounding tissue suppressed

  • Fluid collection or cyst: Bright hyperintense signal

  • Fat: Suppressed and appears dark

  • Inflammation/abscess: Bright hyperintense periurethral focus

T1 Fat-Sat Post-Contrast:

  • Normal gland: Usually not visualized

  • Cyst: No enhancement of cyst lumen; thin enhancing wall possible

  • Abscess: Rim enhancement with central non-enhancing cavity

  • Tumor: Irregular or nodular enhancement

CT Appearance

Non-Contrast CT:

  • Glands generally not visible without pathology

  • Cysts: Appear as well-defined, low-attenuation periurethral masses

  • Abscess: May appear as a slightly denser collection with ill-defined margins

  • Fat: Low-attenuation tissue surrounding urethra and vagina

Post-Contrast CT:

  • Normal glands not visualized

  • Cysts: No significant enhancement, may show thin rim

  • Abscess: Peripheral rim enhancement with central low attenuation

  • Tumors: Soft tissue density with irregular, enhancing margins

MRI image

Skene’s gland MRI axial anatomy image-img-00000-00000

MRI image

Skene’s gland MRI axial anatomy image-img-00000-00000_00001