Surgery For Vulvar Cancer Research Articles

Management of Squamous Cell Cancer of the Vulva

ObjectivesTo review and make recommendations regarding the management of early and advanced squamous cell cancer of the vulva. OptionsRadical vulvectomy and groin dissection or more conservative surgery in early squamous cell vulvar cancer; chemotherapy and radiation followed by consideration of surgery in advanced disease. OutcomesRisk of inguinal lymph node metastases, risk of tumour recurrence, patient morbidity, patient survival. EvidenceFollows the quality of evidence assessment of the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination (Table 1). Recommendations1.Stage IA lesions (≤ 2cm diameter and≤1mm stromal invasion) can be managed by radical local tumour excision without inguinofemoral node dissection. (II-2B)2.Stage IB unilateral lesion (≤ 2cm diameter, > 1mm stromal invasion and ≥ 1cm from the midline) is treated by radical wide local excision completed by an ipsilateral inguinofemoral node dissection; a central lesion (within 1cm from the midline) requires bilateral inguinofemoral node dissection. (II-2B)3.Patients with either three or more micrometastases in the groin with node size>10mm, with extracapsular spread, or with bilateral microscopic groin metastases should receive postoperative bilateral groin and pelvic radiation. (II-2B)4.Advanced cancer of the vulva should be treated with primary radiation and concomitant chemotherapy, followed by consideration of surgical resection. (II-2B)

Surgery for Vulvar Cancer

Surgery for Vulvar Cancer

Conservative clitoral preservation surgery in the treatment of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma

Objective.To determine the safety and efficacy of clitoral-sparing surgery in women with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the anterior vulva not involving the clitoris. Methods.Patients with vulvar SCCA diagnosed between 1984 and 2000 were identified and data collected. In this descriptive analysis, women treated with complete radical vulvectomy were compared to those treated with clitoral-sparing modified radical vulvectomy. All slides were re-reviewed. Results.Of the 41 women with vulvar carcinoma, 13 had clitoral-sparing modified vulvectomies (group A) while the remaining 28 underwent complete radical vulvectomies (group B). The 13 patients in group A included, 8 with stage I, 2 stage II, 2 stage III, and 1 with stage IV disease. The two groups had similar demographic and pathologic prognostic factors. After a median follow-up of 59 months, no patients in group A had loco-regional failure. Conclusion.Clitoral-sparing vulvar cancer surgery does not compromise the rate of loco-regional control in patients and may be offered to selected women.

Surgical management of stage I and II vulvar cancer:The role of the separated incision

Vulvar cancer is a gynecological cancer whose incidence rate is relatively low. Patients generally were admitted at advanced stage, and radiation therapy at advanced stage does not provide favorable prognosis. Two main modalities in the treatment of vulvar cancer are surgery and radiation therapy. However, radiation can be performed in early stage vulvar cancer but surgery is thought to have more benefits, such as in side effect on the ovary/ reproductive function disorder, patient's hygiene factor, and the ease in performing therapy if recurrence occurs. There are various techniques of vulvar cancer surgery, such as radical vulvectomy with butterfly incision (RVBI) and radical vulvectomy with separated incision (RVSI). The objective of this study was to identify the benefits of radical vulvectomy with separated incision in comparison with radical vulvectomy with butterfly incision in terms of the length of surgery, wound recovery, infection incidence, length of hospital stay. This study was a clinical trial performed during the period of 1990-2000. Fifteen cases of vulvar cancer were found and underwent surgery. Fourteen cases were at stage II and 14 cases were histologically defined as squamous-cell carcinoma and 1 case was adenocarcinoma. The average length of surgery in RVSI was 168 minutes, this was shorter than that in VRBI which reached an average of 275 minutes. The incidence of infection in RVSI group was 3 of 11 cases (27.27%), while in RVBI group all cases had infection in surgical wound. Failure of surgical wound approximation was 1 of 12 cases (9.99%), while in RVBI all cases experienced the failure such that cosmetic surgery was required. Length of postoperative care in RVSI group was 12.3 days, while in RVBI 21.5 days. Thus, complications in VRBI were lower, and length of surgery and length of postoperative care were shorter. (Med J Indones 2003; 12: 103-8) Keywords: vulvar cancer, separated incision

Ipsilateral Superficial Inguinal Lymphadenectomy for the Treatment of Early Cancer of the Vulva

This study compared the rates of survival, recurrence, and the occurrence of complications after surgery for vulvar cancer in selected patients treated by simple vulvectomy or wide local excision (WLE) and ipsilateral superficial inguinal lymphadenectomies (ISIL) and who were in a representative group of previous patients treated by standard radical surgery (control). Superficial inguinal lymphadenectomies were performed in 32 patients with laterally localized squamous cell tumors of 1 to 3 cm in size and without palpable lymph nodes. Eight cases, which showed histological evidence of lymph node metastasis, were submitted to conventional radical treatment and excluded from the study. Of the remaining 24 patients, 12 underwent vulvectomy, 7 hemivulvectomy, and 5 WLE. The results of this group were compared with those of 21 historical controls who previously had tumors of 1 to 3 cm and had been treated by radical vulvectomy with superficial and deep bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy. Dehiscence of the flaps occurred in 66.6% of the control patients and in 8.3% of the ISIL group (chi , p <.0001). There was lymphedema in 13.8% of the controls and none in the ISIL group (Fisher exact test, p <.02). Upon follow-up (3 to 8 years, results are reported for 3 years of follow-up), there were 9.5% vulvar recurrences in the controls and 12.5% in the ISIL group (Fisher exact test, p <.652 not significant). WLE and deep local excision of the primary lesion and ISIL in selected patients with early vulvar cancer seems to be a safe alternative to the traditional radical method.

Primary groin irradiation vs primary groin surgery for early vulvar cancer.

Despite changes in technique, morbidity after surgical treatment for vulvar cancer is considerable and mainly related to the groin dissection. Primary radiotherapy to the groin is expected to result in lower morbidity. However, studies on the efficacy of primary radiotherapy for the groins in terms of groin recurrences and survival show conflicting results. To determine whether the effectiveness and safety of primary radiotherapy to the inguino-femoral lymph nodes is comparable with surgery The literature search was carried out using the criteria set by the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group. A MEDLINE and EMBASE search using the Mesh Heading 'vulvar neoplasms' and textword 'vulva' was performed. Publications on the effectiveness of primary radiotherapy treatment of early squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva were selected. Randomized clinical trials, case-control and observational studies of primary radiotherapy of the groin Type of participants: Patients with early squamous cell cancer of the vulva Type of interventions: inguino-femoral lymph node dissection and primary radiotherapy of the inguino-femoral lymph nodes. Type of outcome measurements: incidence of groin recurrences, survival and morbidity Two reviewers independently assessed study quality and extracted results Out of nine reviewed papers only three met the selection criteria. From these studies, (one randomised controlled trial [RCT] one case-control and one observational study) it became clear from the RCT that the incidence of groin recurrences after primary radiotherapy is higher compared with surgery. survival was also worse in the radiotherapy group. The other two studies showed a higher than expected number of groin recurrences after primary radiotherapy. Morbidity after primary radiotherapy was lower compared with surgery. The conclusion of the RCT was criticized on the grounds of the depth of the radiotherapy administered. The depth of 3 cm used in the RCT, is too shallow to administer an optimal dose to the deeper groin nodes. As shown in an RCT, primary radiotherapy to the groin results in less morbidity but also in a higher number of groin recurrences compared with surgery. Although the technique of radiotherapy in the RCT was criticized, other uncontrolled data do not give evidence for a similar or better groin control for radiotherapy when compared to surgery. This means that surgery is still to be considered the cornerstone of therapy for the groin nodes in women with vulvar cancer. Individual patients not fit enough to withstand surgery can be treated with primary radiotherapy.

Parametrial resection for invasive cervical cancer.

Removal of the parametrium represents the greatest technical challenge and is the main source of treatment related morbidity during radical surgery for carcinoma of the cervix. The move away from radical en bloc strategies, seen in breast and vulvar cancer surgery, has not taken place in cervical cancer; rather an increase of radicality has been advocated. One important reason is uncertainty about the pattern of lymphatic drainage in the parametrium, in particular the existence or absence of parametrial lymph nodes. According to classic anatomic studies and more recent lymphangiographic studies, the parametrium is viewed as a lymph collecting trunk interposed between the organ of drainage (the cervix) and the regional nodes located on the pelvic wall. In contrast to this view, studies in cervical cancer patients using the giant section technique have reported nodes that may be involved early in spread of cervical cancer and which are distributed randomly throughout the parametrium. Based on this observation a strategy of uncompromised radicality regarding parametrial resection has evolved in preference to an individualized strategy with the degree of radicality tailored according to the need for safe margins around the central tumor. This review presents an overview of current knowledge about the parametrium and a discussion about decision making regarding parametrial resection in cervical cancer.

Results of tailored surgery and chemoradiation in vulvar cancer

Results of tailored surgery and chemoradiation in vulvar cancer

Isolated skin bridge metastasis following modified radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy.

Separate vulvar and groin incisions have significantly reduced the morbidity of vulvar cancer surgery. We describe a patient with FIGO stage II squamous vulvar cancer, who developed an ipsilateral tumor recurrence in the skin bridge between the vulva and the groin within 7 months of modified radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy, using triple incisions. The recurrence was treated by wide local excision alone and she remains free of disease 2 years later. Although rare, the potential for failing to excise tumor emboli in the lymphatics of the skin bridge must be recognized when the triple incision technique is used in the surgical treatment of vulvar cancer.

Pelvic exenteration for the treatment of vulvar cancer.

Advanced vulvar cancer can be treated by pelvic exenteration. A clinical review of patients treated by exenteration surgery for vulvar cancer was performed. From 1950 through 1989, 19 patients underwent pelvic exenteration for advanced or recurrent squamous cell cancer of the vulva. The mean age was 53 years (median, 50 years; range, 40-74 years). The cumulative 5-year survival was 60%. Fourteen patients had posterior exenteration; 2 had anterior exenteration; and 3 had total exenteration. The survival was significantly influenced by lymph node status. When lymph nodes were not involved, 10 of 14 patients survived, whereas all 5 patients with lymph node involvement died of disease (P = 0.002). When exenteration was performed as primary therapy, 7 of 11 patients survived, whereas 3 of 8 survived when exenteration was performed for recurrent disease (P = 0.4). The extent of vulvar involvement did not influence survival (P = 0.99). There was no mortality, but ten patients had complications, including vesicovaginal fistula (three); stomal hernia (two); abscess (one); stress urinary incontinence (one); deep venous thrombosis (one); conduit leak (one); enterocutaneous fistula (one); and small intestinal obstruction (one). Acceptable survival for advanced or recurrent vulvar cancer can be achieved with pelvic exenteration, but the presence of metastatic disease to lymph nodes markedly decreases survival.

Pelvic exenteration for the treatment of vulvar cancer

Background. Advanced vulvar cancer can be treated by pelvic exenteration. Methods. A clinical review of patients treated by exenteration surgery for vulvar cancer was performed. Results. From 1950 through 1989, 19 patients underwent pelvic exenteration for advanced or recurrent squamous cell cancer of the vulva. The mean age was 53 years (median, 50 years; range, 40–74 years). The cumulative 5-year survival was 60%. Fourteen patients had posterior exenteration; 2 had anterior exenteration; and 3 had total exenteration. The survival was significantly influenced by lymph node status. When lymph nodes were not involved, 10 of 14 patients survived, whereas all 5 patients with lymph node involvement died of disease (P = 0.002). When exenteration was performed as primary therapy, 7 of 11 patients survived, whereas 3 of 8 survived when exenteration was performed for recurrent disease (P = 0.4). The extent of vulvar involvement did not influence survival (P = 0.99). There was no mortality, but ten patients had complications, including vesi-covaginal fistula (three): stomal hernia (two): abscess (one); stress urinary incontinence (one); deep venous thrombosis (one); conduit leak (one); enterocutaneous fistula (one); and small intestinal obstruction (one). Conclusions. Acceptable survival for advanced or recurrent vulvar cancer can be achieved with pelvic exenteration, but the presence of metastatic disease to lymph nodes markedly decreases survival.

Surgery for Vulvar Cancer

In recent years, data have been accumulated regarding risk factors for metastatic potential and have improved the understanding of the pathways and frequency of lymphatic dissemination. Proper application of this information allows individualization of treatment to obtain optimal cure rates with minimum morbidity in patients with vulvar malignancy.