Contralateral groin recurrence in patients with stage I Bartholin's gland squamous cell carcinoma and negative ipsilateral nodes: report on two cases and implications for lymphadenectomy.

Background: Modalities of inguinal lymphadenectomy in patients with early stage Bartholin's gland squamous cell carcinoma (BGC) remain discussed. The aim of this paper is to report 2 patients with stage 1 BGC and negative ipsilateral groin nodes who developed a contralateral groin recurrence.

Cases: Two patients treated for BGC and undergoing an ipsilateral groin nodes dissection (with absence of nodal involvement) presented contralateral groin recurrence. These recurrences were observed 14 and 3 months after the initial treatment in the first and second case. In the first case, the nodal recurrence was associated with a local vaginal recurrence.

Conclusions: These 2 cases suggest that << cross >> groin nodal involvement can occur, even in patients with early stage BGC. Bilateral groin dissection should be performed in patients with BGC.