[Pronostic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. about 35 cases]

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the pronostic factors of the vulvar cancer. This is a retrospective study, of 35 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva diagnosed and treated at Farhat Hached Hospital [Sousse] between January 1991 and December 2002. The study of the pronostic factors is based on analysis of the following parameters obtained after a period varying from 6 months to 5 years clinical data, pre-therapeutique and therapeutic evaluation, pathologic data, outcome and survival rate. The diagnostis was often late with a delay for consultation superior to 6 months in 60% of cases. 80% of the patient were in stages III and IV of FIGO with an average tumorous size of 3.8 cm and palpable lymph node in 74.2% of the cases. 22 patient underwent vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal node dissection. Adjuvant therapy was carried out in 8 cases. The rate of relapses was 22.7%. The global survival at 5 years of the operated patients was of 40%. The main prognostic factors were the size tumorale, the degrees of stromal invasion and the lymph node invasion. Early detection fo vulvar cancer by regular gynecologic examinations and a biopsy of all suspect lesions, allows an early treatment consequenlly a better prognosis