High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy of Bartholin's gland: A case report.
OBJECTIVE
To preserve the organs and function of the anus and ureter, radiotherapy was chosen for an advanced vulvar tumor originating from Bartholin's gland.


METHODS
The patient was a 74-year-old female with stage III (FIGO) vulvar cancer derived from the left Bartholin's gland. She received 63 Gy to the vulvar lesion with external beam irradiation followed by 30 Gy of high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy.


RESULTS
One year after radiotherapy, simple vulvectomy and reconstructive surgery were performed. The anal and ureteral functions were preserved. Histological examination revealed no evident malignant cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Owing to the technological development of radiotherapy and improved reconstructive surgery, radiotherapy in treatment of the vulvar area has become effective and safe and could be indicated more as a treatment option for the sake of organ preservation.
Yamada
T
T
Department of Radiology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
Yanagawa
S
S
Iwai
H
H
Ishigaki
T
T
Nawa
A
A
Kikkawa
F
F
D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology; D001472:Bartholin's Glands / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery; D001918:Brachytherapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014513:Ureter / Q000502:physiology; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery