Adenosquamous carcinomas of the vulva and vagina.

Abstract

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the vulva and vagina has not been described previously at any length. Five cases of adenosquamous carcinoma, two of the vagina, and three of the vulva, were found among 50 patients with cancer of the vulva and vagina who were hospitalized at this institution from 1955 through 1971. The clinical information and histopathologic material were reviewed. These tumors occurred in the fourth, fifth, and sixth decades of life in nulliparous or primigravid women. Although radical surgery was performed in all cases, only a single lymph nodal metastasis was found. Despite this fact, three of the women died secondary to local extension of the tumor. Although all of the tumors could be of Mullerian or cloacogenic origin, two could be of Bartholin gland origin. Further study is necessary to elucidate the histogenesis and natural course of these neoplasms.