Squamous Vulvar Cancer: A Clinically Based Individualization of Treatment

Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate treatment results in 211 patients with previously untreated squamous cell vulvar cancer who were primary managed by surgery at the Gynecologic Oncology Unit of Alexandra Hospital, in terms of en bloc radical vulvectomy (N = 105), modified radical vulvectomy with three different incisions technique (N = 60), and radical hemivulvectomy (N = 46) with inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy.Methods. The surgical stage of disease, nodal status, lesion location and focality, marginal status, tumor size, physical and performance status, surgical modality used, and finally complications and recurrence rates were the analyzed factors for both survival and disease remission.Results. The overall 5-year survival was 70.1%. The 5-year survival for node-positive patients was 53.8% versus 79.7% for node-negative patients. Unifocal lesions had a 5-year survival of 76% compared with 50% of multifocal lesions. Posterolateral lesions had a better 5-year survival than that of anterior central lesions (79.5% vs 54.4%). The marginal status of the surgical specimen was a significant predictor of both survival and recurrence. There was a significant difference in complications related to the en bloc radical vulvectomy in terms of wound breakdown, infection, and wound cellulitis.Conclusions. Modified radical procedures are equally effective with the en bloc radical vulvectomy for the management of early (stage I/II) vulvar cancer. In advanced disease concervative surgery in an individualized approach could also effectively be applied.     

A comparative study of radical vulvectomy and modified radical vulvectomy for the treatment of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Forty-five patients who underwent a modified radical vulvectomy for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva were compared with forty-five patients who underwent radical vulvectomy for similar lesions. Vulvar wound infection and breakdown were infrequent in both groups. Anal incontinence developed postoperatively in five of the modified radical vulvectomy patients and in none of the radical vulvectomy patients. Urinary incontinence developed postoperatively in two of the modified radical vulvectomy patients and in seven of the radical vulvectomy patients. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. One invasive local recurrence (2.2%) developed in the modified radical vulvectomy group and two (4.4%) local recurrences developed in the radical vulvectomy group. A modified radical vulvectomy appears to be efficacious for the vulvar phase of treatment of localized invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.     

外阴癌39例手术治疗及预后分析

目的 总结我院治疗外阴癌的手术方式,分析与外阴癌预后有关的因素。方法 回顾性分析我院１９７９－１９９７年收治的３９例侵袭性外阴癌的临床资料。其中外阴病灶局部切除术５例、部分外阴根治术１３例及全外阴根治术２１例。应用ＳＰＳＳ地不同的手术方式秀关预后因素进行比较分析。结果 ３９例中鳞癌３３例,占８４．６％,其中高、中、低分化分别为２６、５、２例。临床分期为Ⅰ期７例（１７．９％）Ⅱ期１７例（４３．６％）     

Complications following combined surgery (radical vulvectomy versus wide local excision) and radiotherapy for the treatment of carcinoma of the vulva: report of 73 patients

Cancer of the vulva is uncommon, accounting for only 5% of all gynecologic malignancies, and usually occurs in women over 60 years of age. The historic treatment of choice for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva is radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy, which has produced excellent long-term survival. We retrospectively analyzed the complications of wide local excision plus postoperative radiotherapy compared with those of radical vulvectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy plus pre-or postoperative radiotherapy in 73 patients with vulvar cancer. There were no significant differences among these treatments in terms of primary tumor control, 5-year disease-free survival, and overall survival. Based on these results, the best treatment alternative for advanced vulvar cancer is wide local excision plus radiotherapy, as this method retains the high survival of traditional therapy but has less morbidity.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva stage IA: long-term results

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of metastases to lymph nodes and long-term results of radical and modified radical surgery in patients with a T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and 相似文献   

Recurrent vulvar carcinoma in pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Vulvar carcinoma is rare in the premenopausal age group. The incidence during pregnancy is even more uncommon. To date, no cases of recurrent vulvar carcinoma in pregnancy have been reported. We describe the first case of recurrent vulvar carcinoma during the same pregnancy. CASE: A 36-year-old G5P4004 presented with vulvar pain at 18 weeks of pregnancy. She had a 2.2-cm tender mass anterior to the left labium majus, of which a biopsy revealed invasive squamous cell carcinoma. At 23 weeks' gestation, she underwent a modified radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinofemoral lymph node dissection. Eleven weeks later, she complained of a newly tender area to the right of the clitoris. A biopsy at that time demonstrated predominantly severe vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN III) with a small focus of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. A radical local excision was performed at 9 weeks postpartum. CONCLUSION: Careful surveillance is warranted as squamous cell carcinoma recurrence can occur quickly in the setting of pregnancy.     

Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vulva: Behaviour and Results in the Light of Changing Management Regimens

Ninety-nine patients with carcinoma of the vulva were referred to the Gynaecologic Oncology Unit, Royal Brisbane Hospital, over 10 years. Ninety of these patients had a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). They were assessed by the 1969 FIGO clinical staging. Each stage was related to nodal involvement, size, depth, histological grade, lymphvascular space involvement, perineural permeation and multifocal disease site. The operability rate was 85%. Treatment was individualized in line with recent philosophies for more conservative surgery where appropriate. Mortality was 2.6%. Five-year survival of surgically treated patients was 60.3%; node negative patients 100%, and node positive patients 25.2%. After adjustment for stage and size, the only other independent statistically significant feature was perineural penetration. Local recurrence was more likely with increased stage and size, unclear margins and multifocal involvement. It is important to note that medically unfit patients who had vulvectomy alone and who later developed positive nodes had 100% mortality. This group of patients significantly decreases survival rates, confirming the importance of carrying out inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy at the time of initial surgery. Morbidity was decreased by conservative surgery. Lymphoedema remains the most common chronic complication. No significant difference was shown in local recurrence between different types of surgery, wide excision, hemivulvectomy, simple vulvectomy or radical vulvectomy (22%), confirming the safety of the more conservative approach of recent years.     

Minimally invasive vulvar carcinoma: An indication for conservative surgical therapy

It has been proposed that squamous carcinoma of the vulva with 1 mm or less of stromal invasion can be treated with local resection without inguinal node dissection. A retrospective review of 255 cases of stages I and II vulvar carcinoma demonstrated 24 cases of minimally invasive carcinoma. All cases were subjected to detailed chart review and pathologic confirmation. Mean age at diagnosis was 60 years. Seven patients had a preoperative diagnosis of preinvasive disease, ten had stage I disease, and seven had stage II disease. Fifteen cases had associated vulvar carcinoma in situ. Treatment consisted of local excision in 2 patients, radical wide excision in 11, hemivulvectomy in 5, and radical vulvectomy in 6. Eleven patients had either unilateral or bilateral inguinal node dissection. Five-year life-table survival was 89%. Four patients (17%) developed recurrent dysplasia and four (17%) developed invasive recurrences. One invasive recurrence was in an inguinal node in a patient previously treated with a hemivulvectomy and negative ipsilateral superficial node dissection. Univariate analysis revealed no statistically significant associations between recurrence and age, symptom duration, margin status, location, FIGO stage, or coexisting VIN. Large areas of coexisting dysplasia and variable gross appearance make meaningful application of FIGO staging criteria difficult in lesions with minimal focal invasion. Wide excision or radical wide excision of lesions with "high-risk" VIN or those showing less than or equal to 1 mm of stromal invasion on biopsy is adequate therapy. If final pathologic review demonstrates deeper invasion, a selective lymph node dissection can be performed as a second procedure. Careful surveillance with liberal use of colposcopy and biopsies is indicated in these patients.     

Vulvar malignancy

Treatment of invasive vulvar malignancy has become more individualized during the past decade. In the past, radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy was the standard therapy for invasive squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma of the vulva. This is no longer always the case. The treatment of stage I and stage II invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva has become more individualized. Less radical surgery appears to produce the same results as ultraradical surgery. Wide local excision of early lesions associated with ipsilateral lymph node dissection appears to be adequate therapy in many cases. Likewise, treatment of early melanoma (0.75 mm in thickness) can be managed by wide local excision with or without groin dissection of the ipsilateral side. This more conservative approach has resulted in significantly fewer postoperative complications and has improved the self-image of many women undergoing treatment for vulvar malignancy.     

Outcomes of Stage I/II vulvar cancer patients after negative superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the patterns of recurrence associated with superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy (SupIL) and vulvectomy for patients with Stage I/II vulvar cancer. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified patients from 1990-2001 with Stage I/II vulvar cancer that underwent SupIL and vulvectomy. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method with Fisher Exact and Chi-square tests for comparisons between groups. RESULTS: 65 patients with Stage I/II vulvar cancer with a pathologically negative SupIL were identified (30 Stage I, 35 Stage II). Three patients recurred in the inguinal region, (4.6%) and 11 patients (16.9%) recurred on the vulva. Two of the 11 patients died of disease, six patients are alive without evidence of disease after additional therapy. Five-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 66% and 97%, respectively. Risk of recurrence was not associated with smoking status, stage, or margin status. CONCLUSIONS: SupIL and vulvectomy for Stage I/II vulvar cancer have a low recurrence rate in the inguinal region when nodes are negative. The local recurrence rate (17%) is acceptable, and overall survival is good using this conservative approach.     

A new approach to vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: two-year follow-up of a case report

BACKGROUND: Vulvar carcinoma is relatively rare gynaecologic malignancy. The most prevalent vulvar cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. It is not uncommon for patients to delay seeking medical attention or for physicians to delay diagnosing the condition. This delay results in many cases being diagnosed in advanced stage. The sentinel lymph node "concept" is attractive in vulvar cancer because it has the potential to avoid a radical vulvectomy associated with uni- or bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy and, thus, to avoid the morbidity associated with formal groin dissection. CASE REPORT: A case of an 88-year-old woman with advanced local vulvar cancer is presented. A study of the inguinal-femoral lymph nodes was also conducted with intraoperative vital blue dye peritumoral injection and as the sentinel node was found to be negative for malignant metastasis, a radical vulvectomy without bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy and without additional treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) was performed. Follow-up was performed at one, three, six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months. No local recurrence or distant metastasis was found. CONCLUSION: The sentinel lymph node procedure allows a less aggressive treatment to be carried out in patients with invasive vulvar cancer thus reducing the complications and morbidity of treatment. Moreover, reducing the operative stress can change the overall survival and reduce the mortality linked to complications and postoperative stress.     

外阴Paget病的临床特点与治疗分析

目的:探讨外阴Paget病的临床特点及治疗方法。方法:回顾分析8例外阴Paget病的临床资料。结果:8例外阴Paget病中7例(87.5%)为绝经后妇女,平均年龄64.5岁,5例(62.5%)以瘙痒为首发症状,4例有皮肤湿疹样改变,4例局部皮肤增厚、僵硬或有溃疡、红肿。2例合并其他部位的恶性肿瘤。8例在发现外阴病变或出现症状后5~120个月(平均43.37个月)经外阴活检组织学确诊。治疗以手术为主,8例中3例有浸润性病变或合并腺癌,扩大手术范围或术后辅助放疗,1例发展为癌。1例腹股沟淋巴结转移者也进展为癌。4例为表皮内Paget病,其中3例行局部病灶切除术或外阴单纯切除术,1例放射治疗,均未复发。结论:外阴Paget病多见于绝经后患者,症状以瘙痒为主,有就诊延迟现象。治疗以手术为主,表皮内Paget病可行外阴单纯切除术或局部病灶切除术,伴有浸润性病变、合并腺癌或淋巴结转移者常需扩大手术范围。复发常见,患者均需终生随访。     

A phase III randomized clinical trial comparing laparoscopic or robotic radical hysterectomy with abdominal radical hysterectomy in patients with early stage cervical cancer

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is a significant health problem in countries of the developing world. Although case series suggest advantages of total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH) compared with total abdominal radical hysterectomy (TARH), no randomized controlled trial is currently available to establish TLRH as the new standard treatment. In this study, TLRH or total robotic radical hysterectomy (TRRH) will be performed without a vaginally assisted portion of the procedure. DESIGN: A biphasic randomized controlled trial was designed to test feasibility of recruitment and equivalence in regard to disease-free survival (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS: Patients with histologically confirmed invasive squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the cervix, stage IA1 (with lymphovascular space invasion), IA2, and IB1 are eligible. INTERVENTIONS: During the first phase, 100 patients will be randomized (1:1) to receive either TLRH/TRRH or TARH, with the primary end point being the rate of enrollment. During the second phase, recruitment will be extended by another 640 patients in a 1:1 TLRH/TRRH:TARH allocation, to determine equivalence with respect to disease-free survival with 80% power and alpha=0.05. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Equivalence will be assumed if the difference in disease-free survival does not exceed 7% at 4 years. Secondary outcomes include treatment-related morbidity, costs and cost effectiveness, patterns of recurrence, quality of life, pelvic floor function, feasibility of intraoperative sentinel node sampling, and overall survival. All data from this multicenter study will be entered using online electronic case report forms, allowing real-time assessment of data completeness and patient follow-up. CONCLUSION: This prospective trial aims to show the equivalence of a TLRH/TRRH versus TARH approach for patients with early stage cervical cancer following a 2-phase protocol. This trial was developed and designed with the input and approval of the members of the Gynecologic Oncology Committee from the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.     

Neoplasias vulvares intraepiteliales e invasivas. Análisis de 142 casos

ObjectiveTo describe our casuistics of intraepithelial and invasive vulvar lesions.Material and methodsWe performed a retrospective study between 1974 and 2002.ResultsOur series included 142 patients, with 18 preinvasive lesions and 124 carcinomas. The most frequent neoplasm was squamous cell carcinoma (105 patients; 73.9 % ).The most common stage was FIGO stage II (35.2 % ). The most common surgical procedure in the group with carcinomas was radical vulvectomy (87 patients; 70.2%). In patients with squamous cell carcinoma, survival was significantly correlated with the presence of recurrence (Fisher’s exact test = 0) and FIGO stage (Fisher’s exact test = 0.015).ConclusionsVulvar neoplasms have a good rate of local control and survival if appropriate surgical management is provided.     

Simultaneous diagnosis and therapy of invasive cervical carcinoma and invasive vulvar carcinoma. A case report

Invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva is predominantly a disease of postmenopausal woman with a mean age of approximately 65 years. After treatment for cervical cancer patients have an increased risk of developing second squamous cell malignancy of the lower genital tract. This study reports the case of a patient with double malignancy—invasive cervical cancer and invasive vulvar cancer. She underwent radical hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy and pelvic bilateral lymphadenectomy and at the same time radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy. After surgery she was referred to radiotherapy. The postoperative course was uneventful and at 14 months of follow-up, the patient showed no evidence of recurrence.     

Coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinoma of the vulva

AIM: To evaluate the coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinoma of the vulva and to assess the clinical course, survival and rate of recurrent disease of these patients. METHODS: The records of 17 patients who were diagnosed with verrucous carcinoma of the vulva over a 12-year period were studied retrospectively. Presence of genuine verrucous carcinoma or coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinoma of the vulva on vulvar biopsies, results of histopathological assessment of final vulva and inguino-femoral node specimens and histological evaluation of recurrent disease specimens were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: Five of the 17 patients (29.5%) initially underwent radical vulvectomy and inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy. Histology of the specimens verified the coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinomas in four of the five cases. Twelve women (70.5%) underwent simple vulvectomy for genuine verrucous carcinoma; in the final histology, 10 of these women (58.8%) were confirmed as having genuine verrucous carcinomas while two (11.7%) were found to have both verrucous and squamous carcinomas and were further managed by lymphadenectomy. None of our patients died of the disease. Three women (17.5%) presented with local relapse of the tumour, and were managed by wide local excision of the tumour. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, 35% of patients with verrucous carcinomas of the vulva had coexistent squamous carcinoma. Separation of the cases of genuine verrucous carcinoma from coexistent verrucous and squamous tumours is based on the establishment of correct diagnosis by a large and deep vulvar biopsy as well as the meticulous assessment of the specimen by the pathologist. This will result in the decrease of the rate of over- and under-treatment of these patients.     

Vulvar invasive squamous cell carcinoma occurring in a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have demonstrated a possible relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia and several solid tumors, it is still debatable whether SLE patients have an increased incidence of cancer overall. CASE: We describe a 25-year-old patient with SLE who developed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. The patient underwent radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin sentinel lymph node dissection and until to date, one year after surgery, she is alive without evidence of recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: Only three cases of vaginal/vulvar cancer associated with SLE have previously been mentioned in the literature, but not described in detail. This is the first detailed case report in the literature of vulvar invasive squamous cell carcinoma occurring in a SLE patient. It can only be speculated that the SLE itself and/or the treatment with immunosuppressive drugs provoked malignant transformation and the development of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in such a young patient.     

外阴恶性肿瘤79例临床治疗方法及预后分析

目的:探讨外阴恶性肿瘤不同治疗方法的临床效果及预后。方法:对2000年1月至2010年6月本院收治的79例外阴恶性肿瘤的治疗及预后进行回顾性研究。结果:Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ期的3年、5年生存率比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);部分性外阴根治术组与传统全外阴根治术组3年、5年生存率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);外阴癌根治术加放疗与单纯放疗5年生存率比较差异有高度统计学意义及统计学意义(P<0.05);腹股沟淋巴结阴性患者的5年生存率与阳性患者比较及盆腔淋巴结阴性患者的5年生存率与阳性患者比较差异有高度统计学意义及统计学意义(P<0.01,P<0.05)。结论:临床分期及淋巴结转移状况是对外阴恶性肿瘤的预后具有显著影响的两个因素。外阴恶性肿瘤的治疗方式应具个体化。     

Morbidity and recurrence with modifications of radical vulvectomy and groin dissection.

Vulvar carcinoma has been managed in recent years with modifications of radical vulvectomy and groin dissection. Separate groin incisions, superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy, unilateral groin dissection, and wide excision have been utilized to reduce the morbidity of treatment. In this study, the surgical management of 82 patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma was reviewed in order to assess morbidity and risk of recurrence. A modification of radical vulvectomy and groin dissection was employed in 67 patients, while 15 patients underwent classical en-bloc vulvar and groin dissection. Wound complications of the vulva occurred in 1 of 12 patients undergoing hemivulvectomy, in 8 of 55 undergoing radical vulvectomy, and in 7 of 15 who had en-bloc vulvar resection and groin dissection (P = 0.01). Among the 46 patients undergoing bilateral groin dissection through separate incisions, groin breakdown, lymphocyst, and lymphedema occurred in 10 (22%), 7 (15%), and 7 (15%), versus 0, 1 (7%), and 2 (13%) of the 15 who had unilateral groin dissection. Modification of vulvar resection did not increase the risk of local recurrence. Groin recurrence developed in 2 of 15 patients who underwent en-bloc groin dissection and in 1 of 46 who underwent bilateral groin dissection through separate incisions. Two of 15 who had a unilateral groin dissection recurred in the contralateral groin. The risk of recurrence as well as morbidity following modifications of radical vulvectomy with groin dissection should be considered when planning treatment.     

Skin bridge recurrences in vulvar cancer: frequency and management

Abstract. Rose PG. Skin bridge recurrences in vulvar cancer: frequency and management.
The use of separate groin incisions has markedly reduced the rate of wound breakdown from radical vulvectomy. This retrospective review was undertaken to evaluate the frequency and management of skin bridge recurrences. Five cases of skin bridge recurrence in vulvar cancer were identified among 128 patients. Patient demographics, pathology, recurrence management, and follow-up were obtained from operative and clinical records and tumor registries.
Five cases of isolated skin bridge recurrence were studied, of which four patients had squamous cancer and one melanoma. Excluding one case referred at recurrence, this occurred in 2.4% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma and was more common in patients with positive nodes 3 of 41 patients versus 0 of 85, relative risk 3.07 (95% confidence interval 2.39–3.95). The median time to recurrence following surgery was 4.0 months (range 1–47 months). Four recurrences were treated by radical local excision alone, but 3 had already received radiation therapy. One patient developed a second skin bridge recurrence and was treated with a second radical local excision. Three patients are alive and recurrence-free 38+ to 56+ months (median 51+ months) following treatment for recurrence.
Skin bridge recurrences are rare and more common in patients with inguinal node metastasis. Local excision with or without radiation therapy is the most common therapy that has been employed. In the absence of other metastases local excision is associated with a good recurrence-free survival.