Korean J Obstet Gynecol.
2002 May;45(5):800-805.
Primary Invasive Carcinoma of the Vulva: A Clinical Review
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Cheil Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
AND METHOD: Vulvar cancer is known to be a relatively rare malignancy among female population. Because of rare incidences and poor interests in malignancy of female genital tract, no sufficient clinical study has been accomplished and therefore clinical significance underestimated. However, a recent increase of vulvar cancer rate receives more attention because of the rapid growth in senile female population, such lesion becomes more accessible and thus early detection and treatment are highly required. In this report, we have investigated a retrospective clinical study on 13 patients diagnosed as primary invasive vulvar carcinoma at Samsung Cheil Hospital from 1988 to 2000.
RESULTS
The mean age was 54.0 years (40-68). The most common symptom was found to be a palpable mass (92.3%). The lesion was observed mostly in labia minora (38.5%), followed by labia majora (30.8%) and clitoris (15.4%). Of 61.5% of the patients, a left-sided tendency in the occurrence of the lesion was noticeable. Among the patients who underwent surgery, stage II (55.5%) and histopathologically squamous cell carcinoma (69.2%) was dominant. Surgical complications were noted at 55.5% but no death was reported. There were 3 cases with invasion of the margin and 2 cases with radiotherapy and 1 case with chemotherapy. Mean follow-up was 56.9 (18-160) months and no deaths were reported during the follow-up. Recurrence was observed in only one case after 20 months of surgical operation.
CONCLUSIONS
: To decrease morbidity without compromising survival, a more conservative surgery should be considered for the management of selected patients with primary invasive vulvar cancer.
