A rare case of leiomyosarcoma localized in the Bartholin's gland area and review of the literature

Abstract

Sarcomas of the vulva in the Bartholin's gland area are extremely rare in adults and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. A 65-year-old female patient without any previous complaint presented to our hospital complaining of a genital lump with progressive enlargement over the last six months. Pelvic examination revealed a 6 × 5 cm solid mass lesion with irregular margins localized in the left Bartholin's gland. Preoperative pathology results indicated a benign lesion, which was subsequently totally excised. Histopathological examination of the lesion revealed leiomyosarcoma. When a lesion is localized in the Bartholin's gland area, preoperative biopsy may suggest benign cytology, which can lead to a delay in diagnosis and curative treatment. Total local excision is the first choice for vulvar-complicated masses in the Bartholin's gland area. The present case is the ninth well-documented case reported in the literature.

Leiomyosarcoma of the Vulva Mimicking as Chronic Bartholin Cyst: A Case Report

“…The literature review revealed only nine documented cases of leiomyosarcoma located in the Bartholin’s gland. 1 These cases commonly had an insidious course, presenting as enlarging painless solid mass located in the labia majora or minora. Other symptoms included pain, pruritus, and erythema.…”

“…Sarcomas account for 1% of all malignancies, while vulvar sarcomas account for 1–2% of vulvar tumors. 1 Leiomyosarcoma is the most common type of sarcoma presenting in the vulva and thought to originate from the smooth muscle within erectile tissue or the blood vessel wall, or in the erectile-pili muscle. Other rare vulvar sarcomas include epithelioid sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, malignant hemangiopericytoma, neurogenic sarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma.…”

Leiomyosarcoma Vulva

“…Vereinzelt wurden größere Befunde vor Exzision gestanzt [9,10]. Kleinere nicht eindrückliche Befunde, unabhängig von der Lokalisation, können übersehen oder missinterpretiert werden.…”

Primary vulvar leiomyosarcoma localized in the Bartholin's gland area: A case report and review

“…Sarcomas are tumors with mesenchymal origin and very poor prognosis compromising of 2% of all cancer deaths. These neoplasms are very rare and account for 1 to 2% of all malignancies (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Sarcomas of the female genital tract have a low frequency of 3% (4,8,9).…”

“…Sarcomas of the female genital tract have a low frequency of 3% (4,8,9). In particular, vulvar sarcomas account for 1 to 2% of all the vulvar tumors, compared to the uterine sarcomas, which represent the vast majority of all sarcomas of the female reproductive system (90%) (2,(5)(6)(7).…”