Papilloma of Bartholin's gland duct cyst: first report of a case.

A 50-year-old woman underwent excision of a vaginal cyst. Its distal end lay in the submucosal tissue of the posterior lateral aspect of the vulvar vestibule near the orifice of Bartholin's gland. The caudal wall of the cyst contained a papilloma with an epithelial lining which consisted of columnar and stratified polygonal cells resembling squamous and transitional epithelium. The histochemical attributes of the papillary epithelium were homologous to those of Bartholin's gland. Immunohistochemical studies supported glandular and squamous differentiation. Evolution from a dysontogenetic remnant of Müllerian origin cannot be excluded with certainty, but location and histopathology were consistent with origin from Bartholin's gland duct. The presence of mucin and the absence of a smooth muscle investment exclude derivation from Gartner's duct. Cysts of Bartholin's gland are common, but solid benign tumors are rare. We have been unable to find a report of a papilloma of either vulva or vagina with features similar to those in our patient.