A case report angiomyxoma presenting as Bartholin’s cyst

Abstract

Aggressive angiomyxoma (AA) is a rare, slow-growing mesenchymal tumor that predominantly affects women of reproductive age and often mimics common vulvar conditions like Bartholin’s cysts. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman who presented with a 6-month history of painless, progressively enlarging left vulval swelling. She sought medical attention due to embarrassment and complaints from her husband. A working diagnosis of Bartholin’s cyst was made, and the patient was counselled for surgery. Intraoperatively, findings deviated from the presumed diagnosis, revealing a well-encapsulated gelatinous mass. Marsupialization with wide local excision was performed under face mask anaesthesia, and the excised specimen was sent for histopathological analysis. Histology confirmed AA. This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion for atypical vulvar masses, the role of histopathology in confirming the diagnosis, and the need for diligent follow-up to manage the recurrence risks associated with AA.