Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Bartholin's gland

Gynecol Oncol. 2002 Dec;87(3):308-9. doi: 10.1006/gyno.2002.6828.

Abstract

Background: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) may involve the lower female genital tract, most often as a manifestation of systemic disease and rarely as a primarily localisation.

Case: A 73-year-old woman, HIV-negative, presented with a 5-month history of a mass in the left Bartholin's gland. The performed biopsy was reported to be a poorly differentiated carcinoma. Therefore, the patient underwent a vulvectomy with superficial groin node dissection. Unexpectedly, the definitive histological diagnosis showed that the tumor was an extranodal diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Conclusion: This is the first report of a NHL located in the Bartholin's gland. Primary NHLs involving the external genitalia are rare and often inaccurately diagnosed. A greater awareness of this entity among clinicians and pathologists could uncover more cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bartholin's Glands / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / radiotherapy
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / radiotherapy