Adenoid cystic carcinoma of Bartholin's gland: a report of five new cases treated with surgery and radiotherapy.

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a slow-growing tumor with a marked tendency for perineural and local invasion. The neoplasm occurs more frequently in the head and neck region and only 39 previously described cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of Bartholin's gland are found in the world literature. Most authors advocate surgery as the primary treatment. Several cytostatic drugs have been tried but the results have been poor. The benefit of radiotherapy in the treatment of this type of tumor is not yet established. This is a report of five new cases all treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Three patients had histopathologically proven evidence of residual disease after surgery and were subsequently treated with radiotherapy. They are now living without evidence of disease after 28, 51, and 138 months.