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Chapter 32 - Vulvar Malignancies

from Section 6 - Vulva and Vagina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2021

By
Martin Weiss ,
Eva-Maria Grischke ,
Ernst Oberlechner ,
Florin-Andrei Taran ,
Sara Y. Brucker  and
Diethelm Wallwiener
Edited by
Tahir Mahmood ,
Charles Savona-Ventura ,
Ioannis Messinis  and
Sambit Mukhopadhyay
Tahir Mahmood
Affiliation:
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Charles Savona-Ventura
Affiliation:
University of Malta, Malta
Ioannis Messinis
Affiliation:
University of Thessaly, Greece
Sambit Mukhopadhyay
Affiliation:
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, UK
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Summary

Vulvar carcinoma is a relatively rare cancer entity. However, this disease, in contrast to other gynaecological cancers, recently showed an increasing incidence, including young women. Despite showing a poor response on the administration of chemotherapeutics, vulvar carcinomas have excellent response to surgical treatment when detected in early stages. More than other cancer entities and especially in young females, treatment of vulvar cancer effects body image, sexuality, quality of life and sexual activity. Interdisciplinary decision making, a stage-conforming therapy accompanied with low invasiveness (e.g. lymphadenectomy using the sentinel technique) and further treatment regimens (e.g. radiation) are important steps to preserve the sensitivity and function of the vulva and adjacent organs. Surgical treatment procedures for vulvar cancers have changed during recent years towards tissue-sparing oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery. Previously applied radical surgical approaches, such as en-bloc resection, are often associated with high postoperative morbidity, vulvar deformity and sexual dissatisfaction.

Keywords

vulvar carcinomasentinel techniquelymphadenectomyradiotherapyradical valvectomy
Type
Chapter
Information
The EBCOG Postgraduate Textbook of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Gynaecology
 , pp. 266 - 274
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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