Endometriosis of the Bartholin gland: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: In this case report we present a case of endometriosis in the Bartholin gland without surgery in the perineal area. So far, only five cases concerning endometriosis in the Bartholin gland, which may or may not be an isolated finding, have been reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old Indo-surinamese woman with primary infertility presented at our out-patient clinic with cyclical vulvar pain. On gynecological examination, a cyst of 1 × 2 cm was found in the right gland of Bartholin. A transvaginal ultrasound revealed normal gynecological anatomy and did not reveal any contributing information. Due to the recurring pain of the cyst, surgery was scheduled. During surgery, the marsupialization of the cyst resulted in drainage of a chocolate-colored fluid. Pathological examination revealed stroma lined with non-typical columnar epithelium with hemosiderin pigments, which confirmed a diagnosis of endometriosis in the Bartholin gland. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed a case of endometriosis outside the pelvis, without any deep intraperitoneal involvement. So far, only five cases concerning endometriosis in the Bartholin gland, which may or may not be an isolated finding, have been reported in literature.