{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T05:51:38Z","timestamp":1791525098611,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791504000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Bartholin gland abscess and perianal abscess are common suppurative infections involving anatomically adjacent regions of the female perineum. Because both conditions may present with localized pain and swelling, distinguishing their respective origins and determining the extent of infection can be challenging. The concomitant occurrence of these two abscesses is uncommon, and its diagnostic and therapeutic considerations remain poorly characterized. We report a rare case of concomitant Bartholin gland and perianal abscesses and describe the diagnostic process and multidisciplinary surgical management.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Case presentation<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>An 18-year-old woman presented with progressive perineal and perianal pain and swelling. Pelvic computed tomography demonstrated abscess formation involving the perianal and left perineal soft tissues, and a possible communication between the two lesions was initially suspected. Emergency surgery was performed. The perianal abscess was incised and drained, and an infected anal gland was identified and excised, with bridge drainage established between the drainage incisions. Intraoperative exploration revealed no communication between the perianal abscess and the adjacent perineal lesion. Following gynecological consultation, the separate left vulvar abscess was drained and treated with Jacobi ring fistulization. Culture of the perineal abscess grew Escherichia coli, whereas the perianal abscess culture showed no bacterial growth. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging 1 month after surgery demonstrated a cystic lesion in the anatomical region of the left Bartholin gland, supporting the Bartholin gland origin of the previously drained perineal abscess. The patient showed satisfactory clinical recovery, with complete healing of the perianal and perineal wounds at 4 months and no evidence of recurrent abscess during the available follow-up.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Concomitant Bartholin gland and perianal abscesses may be difficult to distinguish because of their overlapping clinical manifestations and anatomical proximity. Clinicians should consider the possibility of multiple independent or potentially related infectious foci and systematically evaluate adjacent anatomical regions. Careful physical examination, appropriate imaging, intraoperative assessment, and timely multidisciplinary collaboration can facilitate accurate diagnosis and individualized surgical management.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1982913","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T05:29:54Z","timestamp":1791523794000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Concurrent Bartholin gland and perianal abscesses in a woman: a case report of a diagnostic challenge"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Jiansheng","family":"Hu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anorectal Surgery, Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Xi'an, Shaanxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liyun","family":"Dong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology, Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Xi'an, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Linmei","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anorectal Surgery, Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Xi'an, Shaanxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hongbo","family":"Su","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anorectal Surgery, Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Xi'an, Shaanxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.1093\/sxmrev\/qeaf027","article-title":"Review of the vestibular glands: functional anatomy, clinical significance, and role in sexual function","volume":"13","author":"Perelmuter","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sex Med Rev"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"621","DOI":"10.1002\/ijgo.70909","article-title":"Marsupialization for the management of Bartholin\u2019s gland abscesses: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"174","author":"Pecorella","year":"2026","journal-title":"Int J Gynaecol Obstet"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.19538\/j.fk2022090110","article-title":"Chinese expert consensus on the treatment of bartholin gland cyst\/abscess (2022 edition)","volume":"38","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Chin J Pract Gynecol Obstet"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1211","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmig.2021.01.006","article-title":"Surgical treatment of bartholin\u2019s gland abscess: is word catheter superior to marsupialization?","volume":"28","author":"Rotem","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Minim Invasive Gynecol"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1159\/000365683","article-title":"Clinical pathology of bartholin\u2019s glands: a review of the literature","volume":"8","author":"Lee","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr Urol"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102357","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jogc.2024.102357","article-title":"Comparison of word catheter and marsupialization in the management of bartholin\u2019s glands: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"46","author":"Bakouei","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynaecol Can"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.3760\/cma.j.cn101480-20251121-00166","article-title":"Expert consensus on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of perianal and perirectal abscess (2025 edition)","volume":"10","year":"2026","journal-title":"Chin J Inflamm Bowel Dis"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1186\/s12876-025-03703-7","article-title":"Clinical application of the intersphincteric approach with internal incision combined with counter- drainage for deep perianal abscess","volume":"25","author":"Hu","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Gastroenterol"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.16079","article-title":"Evaluation of treatments for bartholin\u2019s cyst or abscess: a systematic review","volume":"127","author":"Illingworth","year":"2020","journal-title":"BJOG"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1097\/LGT.0000000000000016","article-title":"Lesions of the bartholin gland: a review","volume":"18","author":"Heller","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Low Genit Tract Dis"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bpobgyn.2009.05.002","article-title":"Bartholin\u2019s, vulval and perineal abscesses","volume":"23","author":"Bora","year":"2009","journal-title":"Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"794","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0b013e3182a5f0de","article-title":"Clinical and microbiological characteristics of bartholin gland abscesses","volume":"122","author":"Kessous","year":"2013","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajem.2020.04.027","article-title":"Association of bartholin cysts and abscesses and sexually transmitted infections","volume":"44","author":"Elkins","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Emerg Med"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102186","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jogoh.2021.102186","article-title":"Approach to bartholin\u2019s abscesses and recurrences under office conditions","volume":"50","author":"Goklu","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"887","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gyobfe.2005.06.022","article-title":"Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum secondary to a surgical treatment of bartholin\u2019s gland abscess","volume":"33","author":"Kdous","year":"2005","journal-title":"Gynecol Obstet Fertil"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106344","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijscr.2021.106344","article-title":"Bartholin\u2019s gland abscess a rare cause of rectovaginal fistula: a case report and literature review","volume":"86","author":"Bensardi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Surg Case Rep"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"964","DOI":"10.1097\/DCR.0000000000002473","article-title":"The American society of colon and rectal surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the management of anorectal abscess, fistula-in-ano, and rectovaginal fistula","volume":"65","author":"Gaertner","year":"2022","journal-title":"Dis Colon Rectum"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e16186","DOI":"10.1111\/jog.16186","article-title":"Are all vulvar masses bartholin cysts? A series of cases","volume":"51","author":"Boz \u0130zceyhan","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynaecol Res"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.14366\/usg.18001","article-title":"Ultrasonography of benign vulvar lesions","volume":"37","author":"Cheung","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ultrasonography"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4734","DOI":"10.1007\/s00330-020-06826-5","article-title":"ESGAR consensus statement on the imaging of fistula-in-ano and other causes of anal sepsis","volume":"30","author":"Halligan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur Radiol"},{"key":"B21","first-page":"760","article-title":"Bartholin duct cyst and gland abscess: office management","volume":"99","author":"Omole","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am Fam Physician"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.14281","article-title":"Word catheter and marsupialisation in women with a cyst or abscess of the bartholin gland (WoMan-trial): a randomised clinical trial","volume":"124","author":"Kroese","year":"2017","journal-title":"BJOG"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1982913\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T05:29:57Z","timestamp":1791523797000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1982913\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]]},"references-count":22,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2026.1982913"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1982913","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]]},"article-number":"1982913"}}