Primary carcinoma of the Bartholin gland: a report of 14 cases and review of the literature.

Fourteen cases of primary carcinoma of the Bartholin gland were treated between 1955 and 1980. Follow-up information was available on all patients. Ten patients have survived free of disease for 5 or more years. Three patients with positive inguinal lymph nodes have survived 5 years. Histological patterns and lymph node involvement are analyzed. The authors' data and a review of the literature support the concept that radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy is required for all histologic types of Bartholin gland carcinoma. Routine pelvic lymph node dissection is not necessary when the inguinal-femoral nodes are negative for metastases.