Bartholin Gland Cyst Mimicking Rectocele: Common Pathology at an Uncommon Location

Abstract

Vaginal cysts are often encountered in gynaecological outpatient settings. These are usually asymptomatic in their initial course but become symptomatic when their size increases or they get infected. While evaluating such cases, clinical examination plays a vital role in ruling out their differential diagnoses. Imaging studies can complement clinical findings. However, in some instances, the nature of vaginal cysts may not be determined preoperatively until histopathology examination reveals it. We report here a rare case of a posterior vaginal wall cyst that presented as a mass protruding through the vagina. The clinical dilemma was the characterization of the cyst, owing to its huge size and rare location. The cyst was managed surgically by excision, and to our surprise, histopathological examination revealed it as a Bartholin gland cyst in the posterior vaginal wall, rare in its location.