Adenocarcinoma of Bartholin's gland

Bartholin's gland carcinoma is an uncommon disease representing 0.1% of all female genital malignant neoplasms. Five Bartholin's gland adenocarcinomas were selected by the criteria of Chamlian and Taylor. Three patients died from metastatic disease within four years; two are free of apparent disease 14 months and 13 years, respectively, after initial diagnosis. Poor prognosis was associated with large tumor size, poor histopathologic differentiation, and lymph node involvement. Transmission electron microscopy verified the glandular nature of the poorly differentiated lesions. All five tumors demonstrated junctional complexes, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, secretory vacuoles, and glandular formation. Low levels of estrogen receptor and moderate levels of progesterone receptor were present in the one case measured. Endogenous peroxidase, and inducible enzyme in estrogen-sensitive tissues, was observed in two of the five tumors.