Abstract
BackgroundVulvar carcinoma is a rare tumor of the female genital tract. In Nigeria, very few studies have looked at the management options for vulvar carcinoma. The objective of this study was therefore, to describe the management options available and the challenges in treating this malignancy in Nigeria.MethodsA descriptive study of all vulvar cancer cases managed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi over a 12 year period (1998-2009). The theatre, ward register, histo-pathologic records and case notes of all women who had surgery for vulvar carcinomas were retrieved and socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, type of surgery, histologic type and complications of treatment were retrieved and analyzed.ResultsThere were 867 gynecological malignancies and vulval carcinoma accounted for 11 cases, giving a prevalence of 1.27%. The ages ranged from 54 to 79 years with a mean of 61.2 years. Parity was 2-14, with a mean of 6.7± 2.33. Most of the patients were of low socio-economic class. All the 11 patients had surgery as 1st line treatment. Radical vulvectomy was done for 6 cases since they presented in the advanced stage. The complications of surgery included hemorrhage (18.2%), chronic lymphedema, wound infection and anesthetic complications. There were no hospital mortalities. Late presentation, with stage III (45.4%) was the commonest stage at presentation while the majority of the vulvar carcinomas (72.7%) were of epithelial origin. Squamous cell carcinoma predominated (63.6%).ConclusionCarcinoma of the vulva is a rare gynecological malignancy in Nigeria. Surgery and radiotherapy remains the mainstay of this disease in Nigeria and can be highly successful if patients present early.
Highlights
Vulvar carcinoma is a rare tumor of the female genital tract
This was a descriptive study of all cases of vulvar carcinoma that presented to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, South-east, Nigeria, between 1st of January, 1998 and 31st of December, 2009 (a 12 - year period)
The case files of 11 women that presented with vulvar carcinoma and were managed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi from the 1st of January, 1998 to the 31st of December, 2009 were retrieved and studied retrospectively
Summary
Vulvar carcinoma is a rare tumor of the female genital tract. In Nigeria, very few studies have looked at the management options for vulvar carcinoma. The objective of this study was to describe the management options available and the challenges in treating this malignancy in Nigeria. In a study in Zaria, Nigeria, it accounted for 1.2% of all genital tract malignancies [1]. It affects 3 in 100,000 women per year and accounts for 4% of female genital tract malignancies in the United Kingdom [2]. It is a disease of older women, with over 80% of cases occurring in women over 55 years old (between the ages of 60-70) [2,3]. Due to human papilloma virus infections, clinicians are treating increasing numbers of younger women, which presents unique challenges in managing this cancer [1,2,3]
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