Korean J Obstet Gynecol.
2003 Nov;46(11):2296-2302.
Two Cases of Malignant Melanoma in Vulva
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Abstract
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Vulvar melanomas are account for 4-10% of all malignant tumors of the vulva and are the second most common cause of the vulvar malignancy with the highest frequency in the sixth and seventh decades and rare with incidence of 0.1 to 0.19 per 100,000 women. The most common presentation is a vulvar mass, although pruritis and bleeding also are frequent. In some cases, the melanoma has arisen from a pre-existing benign or atypical pigmented lesion. Vulvar melanomas appear to behavior as other cutaneous melanomas. Both the level of invasion of a malignant melanoma and its thickness have prognostic significance. Vascular space invasion and tumor necrosis also are associated with a poorer prognosis. Recently the radical vulvectomy dose not appear to improve survival when compared to wide local excision with bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. We had 2 cases of vulvar melanoma treated with wide local excision and laparoscopic inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy.