Invasive ductal carcinoma of the mammary like glands of vulva-with sentinel lymph node identification

Abstract

Breast like carcinomas of the vulva was thought to be originated from ectopic breast tissue or metastasis from breast. It is now accepted that, as mammary-like glands are present in the vulva, any pathology that is found in the breast can be seen at these glands. Adenocarcinoma of the vulva is rare and the breast-like adenocarcinomas are presented as case reports in the literature. We present a primary breast-like carcinoma of the vulva in a 70 year old patient, who had complaint of vulvar mass and bleeding from it. The incisional biopsy was reported as vulvar adenocarcinoma. The intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node was adenocarcinoma metastasis and hemivulvectomy together with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy was carried out. Adenocarcinomas of vulva are very rare and breast like carcinoma must be kept in mind in these cases, as the prognosis and treatment is similar to primary breast carcinomas.