Bartholin's gland squamous cell carcinoma

Vulva carcinoma is relatively uncommon, accounting for around 5% of gynaecological malignancies. Out of this 5%, 2–7% are primary Bartholin's gland carcinomas, making this a rare cancer. Histologically, Bartholin's gland carcinomas can be divided into squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma (Stolen et al. Citation2004). CitationCancer Research UK reports that adenocarcinoma is the most common type of Bartholin's gland carcinoma, although there have been reports that adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are equally common in Bartholin's gland carcinoma (Stolen et al. Citation2004). The Bartholin's glands are located in the superficial perineal pouch with contents including ischiocavernosus muscle, bulbospongiosus muscle and superficial transverse perineal muscle. Surgical resection of the glands with a margin of clearance in malignancies can affect the function of these muscles, leading to consequential morbidities due to weakened pelvic floor and poor coital function.