A primary carcinoma of the Bartholin's gland – a rarely type of vulva-carcinoma

Background: The primary carcinoma of the Bartholin's gland represents approximately 1% – 7% of the cases of vulva-carcinoma. The incidence is highest among women in their 60 s.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is an uncommon histological type of the already rare carcinoma of Bartholin's gland, less than a hundred cases having been reported world wide. It is slow growing but locally aggressive carcinoma with a high risk of recurrence. Liver metastasis are mentioned in the literature

Material and methods: Case report and literature research

Results: We report a case of a 50-year-old woman who presented at our hospital after biopsy of the right Bartholin gland, which proved to be adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Few data are available on the associated treatment wide local excision or vulvectomy and radiotherapy are advocated. Our patient underwent surgical treatment only. Right hemivulvectomy with unilateral inguinal sentinel-node-biopsie was performed. Without radiotherapy the patient is free of disease one year after.

Fig. 1: Postoperative result

Conclusion: Major Factor which influence the outcome is the delay in diagnosis because of an initial misinterpretation as a Bartholin cyst. Due to Finan and Barre's any abnormal growth of the Bartholin gland in a post menopausal woman should be considered malignant and a biopsy performed.