Study of epidemiology, clinicopathological correlation, prognostic factors and management in squamous cell carcinoma of vulva

Background: Carcinoma of the vulva is rare cancer, pruritus is the most common and long-lasting reported symptom. It is found to be associated with HPV and HIV infection. Currently, a more individualized and less radical treatment is suggested. In this study we evaluated epidemiology, clinicopathological prognostic factors, HPV distribution and risk factors for metastases to lymph nodes. We also reviewed multidisciplinary clinical management carried out at our institute.Methods: It is a prospective study of 25 biopsy proven cases of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Vulva, treated at our center from September 2014 to September 2016. We collected the data regarding the clinical presentation, histological details, treatment given, survival and complications. HPV 16 and 18 testing were done using PCR method. Median follow up of the patients are for 24 months.Results: The mean age of patients was 54.6 years. Commonest presentation was perineal itching (36%). HPV 16/18 were positive in 25% of the patients. Radical vulvectomy with bilateral groin dissection was done in 14/25 (56%) patients. Among these 14 patients, 35.7 % (5/14) has lymph node metastases, disease free survival was 63.6% and overall survival was 81.1% for median follow up of 24 months. About one third of the patient presented with locally advanced disease.  Six (24%) patients received only chemo radiation as a treatment.Conclusions: HPV and HIV infection increase the risk of vulvar cancer. Individualization of treatment is necessary. The use of preoperative chemoradiation in locally advanced disease might have promising results in future.

Secondary healing strategy for difficult wound closure in invasive vulvar cancer: a pilot case-control study

OBJECTIVES: Despite the number of surgical advances and innovations in techniques over time, radical vulvectomy frequently results in substantial loss of tissue that cannot be primarily closed without tension, the mobilization of surrounding tissues or even the rotation of myocutaneous flaps. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of leaving the surgical vulvar open wound for secondary healing in situations where primary closure of the vulvar wound is not possible. METHODS: This case-control pilot study analyzed 16 women with a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva who first underwent inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy, 6-week sessions of chemotherapy and 25 daily sessions of radiotherapy. Afterward, excision of the vulvar lesion with free margins was performed between January 2011 and July 2017. Twelve patients underwent primary closure of the wound (control), and in 4 patients, the surgical wound was left open for secondary healing by means of a hydrofiber (case). The inclusion criteria were a) FIGO-2009 stage II up to IIIC; b) squamous cell carcinoma; and c) no evidence of pelvic or extrapelvic disease or pelvic nodal involvement. The exclusion criteria were extrapelvic disease or pelvic nodal involvement, another primary cancer, or a poor clinical condition. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02067052. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of the intervention was 62.1. The distribution of the stages was as follows: II, n=6 (37 %); IIIA, n=1 (6%), IIIB, n=1 (6%) and IIIC, n=8 (51%). The mean operative time was 45 minutes. The hospital stay duration was 2 days. Full vulvar healing occurred after an average of 30 days in the control group and after an average of 50 days in the case group. CONCLUSION: A secondary healing strategy may be an option for the treatment of vulvar cancer in situations of non-extensive surgical wounds when primary closure of the wound is not possible.

Clinical application of sartorius tendon transposition during radical vulvectomy: a case control study of 58 cases at a single institution / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of sartorius tendon transposition versus sartorius transposition during bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy of radical vulvectomy. METHODS: A total of 58 vulvar cancer patients who had surgery from May 2007 to October 2013, in which 30 patients received sartorius transposition and 28 patients received sartorius tendon transposition. All patients were matched by age, body mass index, stage, histology, and grade. Intraoperative variables and postoperative complications, recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) and postoperative life quality were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found at median surgical times and amounts of bleeding (p=0.316 and p=0.249, respectively), neither at the incidences of groin cellulitis and lymphocele (p=0.673 and p=0.473, respectively), but the recovery times of the inguinal wounds were shorter (p=0.026) and the incidences of wound break and chronic lymphedema were significantly decreased in the tendon transposition group (p=0.012 and p=0.022, respectively). Postoperative quality of life in tendon transposition group was significantly improved as indicated by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Recurrences were similar (p=0.346) and no significant differences were found at PFS and OS (p=0.990 and p=0.683, respectively). CONCLUSION: Compared to sartorius transposition, sartorius tendon transposition during inguinal lymphadenectomy led to improved patient recovery, reduced postoperative complications, and improved life quality without compromising the outcomes.

Pregnancy following vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: a report of two cases / 부인종양

Pregnancy following squamous cell carcinoma of the vulvar is rare. Its rarity is reflected by a paucity of cases reported in the literature. We report two cases of pregnancy following diagnosis and treatment for vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, and review eleven prior reported cases. In successfully treated vulvar cancer subsequent pregnancy is not shown to increase the risk of disease recurrence, and there appears to be no deleterious effects during the antenatal period. It is possible, when considering prior reports, that prior vulvectomy may increase the likelihood of delivery by caesarean section, though modifications in the surgical management of vulvar carcinoma may have decreased this risk.

A Case of Vulvar reconstruction with Gluteal Fasciocutaneous Island Sensory Flap after Radical Vulvectomy in the Patient with Vulvar Cancer / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Invasive carcinoma of the vulva is currently accounting for 3-5% of female genital tract malignancy. Standard treatment for vulvar cancer is radical vulvectomy or radical local excision with inguinal lymphadenectomy. Radical vulvectomy is often complicated by problems associated with inadequate closure of large skin defects leading to postoperative skin necrosis. Adequate morphofunctional reconstruction of the vulva has to be considered as an integral part of treatment of vulvar cancer. The present report describes our experience with the use of gluteal fasciocutaneous island sensory flap in a patient who underwent radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy for stage II vulvar cancer. There were no postoperative complications. The donor site scar, concealed in the gluteal fold, was acceptable. The neovulva had a relatively normal appearance with satisfactory sensation and function. Based on our experience with gluteal fasciocutaneous island sensory flap, this technique is compatible with inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy, and allows for a adequate morphofunctional reconstruction and provides good local sensibility.

Clinical Significance of Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Vulvar Cancer / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the validity of sentinel lymph node detection and the possibility of clinical application in treatment of vulvar cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 2001 to January 2002, four patients with vulvar cancer were eligible for this study. All the patients were preoperative technetium-99 m colloid albumin and intraoperative isosulfan blue dye injection intradermally at the junction of tumor mass and normal skin. Superficial lymphatic channels and groin lymph node dissections were made to detect sentinel lymph node and then complete inguinofemoral lymph nodes dissection was performed. All the sentinel lymph nodes were sent to pathologic department for frozen biopsy. RESULTS: Ten sentinel lymph nodes were identified in one-hundred and ten groin lymph nodes. All the ten sentinel lymph nodes showed benign. There was no case that non-sentinel lymph nodes were positive in the presence of negative sentinel lymph nodes by frozen biopsy (negative predictive value was 100%). CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph nodes detection by combination use of technetium-99 m colloid albumin and isosulfan blue dye injection was simple and accurate in our preliminary study. To reduce postoperative morbidity, lymphedema and to minimize extensive inguinofemoral lymph nodes dissection, sentinel lymph node frozen biopsy may be a reasonable alternatives and a suitable method for limited control of vulvar cancer. This preliminary study showed the possibility of clinical application of sentinel lymph node detection in vulvar cancer surgery.