Cloacogenic adenocarcinoma of the vulva.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the vulva is rare, and cloagocenic adenocarcinoma of the vulva is extremely rare. Here we report a vulvar tumor characterized by columnar cells with prominent brush border and the presence of goblet cells and endocrine cells, presenting the tubulovillous pattern and mucin histochemistry of enteric adenocarcinoma. Electron microscopy verified a colon-like pattern. We suggest that cloacogenic carcinoma of the vulva arises from embryonic tissue, normally present in the vulvar introital area. In our case, a wide local excision was sufficient for radical cure. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.