CANCER OF VULVA

Dr M.C.BansalMBBS.MS.FICOG .,MICOGEx HOD (Ob-GY)Ex Principal & Controller

-Jhalawar Medical college and Hospital

&-MGHospital and Medical colleg ,Jaipur

Varieties of vulval carcinoma

Cancer of vulva accounts for 1 to 5% of all genital cancers. Malignant tumours of vulva are groupe as follows---

1.Preinvasive lesions— VIN I,II,III.

Bowens disease

Pagets disease } Intraepethelial ca.

Micro invasive

2.Invasive Lesions – Sqamous cell carcinoma 90% most common

Melanoma - 3-5%

Adenocarcinoma - 1%

Sarcoma - 2%

Rodent ulcer or Basal cell carcinoma - 1%

3. Metastatic tumours In 5% cases the lesions are multifocal , and are seen in

young women

below 40 years.

Preinvasive Lesions Definition Intra epithelial vulval cancer is defined as

Cellular abnormality limited to the epithelium of vulval skin excluding the keratinized layer. Presence of acanthosis, intraepithelial pearl formation and inflammatory reaction in dermis are the other characteristics of this lesion.

Classification

VIN I - cellular abnormality is mild , limited to the basal layer. VIN II- cellular abnormality is limited to lower 1/3rd of the vulval epithelium , basal & intermediate layers. VIN III- entire thickness is involved and shows cellular abnormality.

VIN Incidence Increasing because of increased

awareness, early detection, increased age < 70yrs. Aetiology Chronic vulval

irritation ,Immunosuppressive conditions ,HIV ,Human Papilloma virus infection , smoking STD , dystrophies , poor nutrition , poor hygiene and local moisture are also contributing factors.

50% VIN cases have sequential or concomitant neoplasia in the lower genital tract.

VIN lesions are reported in young women <40 years. Obesity , Diabetes , Chronic purities and dermatitis are

often linked to this disease. HPV DNA detection combined with cytology improves

the detection test to 95%.

Histology A loss of polarity and stratification , dystrophic changes are confined to epidermis ( epithelium only). Basement membrane remains intact.

Clinical Features Asymptomatic for long time. Purities is common symptom usually being treated as fungal infection in early cases. Later on soreness , dysuria , dyspareunia develop. Pre existing leucoplakia , condyloma and dystrophy may show — white/red flat or papular lesions –single/multiple. Multiple wide spread lesions are more common in young

women and occurs in5-25 % . Some develop Pigmentation. Purities -- Scratch /cuts – secondary infected. .

Investigations-Difficult to diagnose and differentiate

from dystrophies – Biopsy .-Exfoliative cytology / colposcopy Are off

no use because of poor exfoliation and keratinization.

-5% acetic acid application , 1% Toludine blue stains abnormal areas . Excisional biopsy of a localized lesion picks up VIN.

Management Of VIN Purpose of Rx--- 1.To relieve symptoms of prurites and

soreness. 2.To prevent development of invasive

cancer. 3. To avoid mutilating surgery and

sexual dysfunction in young woman . Redical vulvectomy causes disfigurement and dyspariunia.

VIN Rx

Rx depends on age , sexual activity , site and extent of VIN and its grading.

Conservative management in place of radical is giving 90-94 % success.

Modern Management VIN I &II with multiple lesion showing euploidy can be watched for 6 months to regress spontaneously in young woman having Immunocompromised state like pregnancy , following recent viral infection.

With unifocal lesion local excision including 2cm healthy area all around . Closure of wound by stitching and approximating the margins. Local recurrence is to be watch for.

VIN Rx Persistent / recurrent lesions of early grades VIN

II /VIN III need skinning vulvectomy with split thickness skin graft to avoid dyspareunia.

Laser excision—Co2 Laser. Cryosurgery —up to depth of 2cm. Local application of Dinitrochlorobenzene , 5%

testosteron e and corticosteroid cream . Flouracil (5Fu) 5% cream applied locally for 6-8

weeks . It causes sloughing and burning. Prophylactic -- HPV vaccination. Photodynamic therapy -- tumour photo sensitizer-

5-amino-leuvinic acid application combinned with non thermal light of appropriate wave length causes nascent oxygen induced cell death.

Elderly woman -- simple vulvectomy.

Follow up

Reccurance around excised lesion or fresh lesion - 20-30 % cases.

5-10% progress to invasive cancer in 8-10 yrs.

Regular follow up at 6-12 monthly interval.

Bowen’s Disease It is intra epithelial carcinoma of vulva. A slow growing hard reddish indurated patch ,

well circumscribed dry and excezmatous surface.

Pruritis is the main symptom. It rarely metastastises. Biopsy reveals typical prickle cells invading

the epidermis .Presence of giant cells. The vagina & Cx both may be involved

simultaneously. Simple vulvectomy is the treatment of choice.

Paget’s Disease

A rare extra mammary disease. Apocrine sweat glands are involved. Slighted elevated , sharply demarcated ,

white indurated /excezmatous lesion found in postmenopausal woman c/o pruritis.

Biopsy reveals typical large pale vacuolated cells in epidermis . These Paget’s cells are adeno carcinomatous mucus secreting round cells with vesicular nucleus and pale cytoplasm.

Paget’s disease

20 % cases may have associated adenocarcinoma of Bartholin gland.

30% cases of perianal lesion may have cancer anus.

Rx is vulvectomy if no underlying cancer is detected.

Radiotherapy. Local and systemic 5Fu and Bleomycin

is also tried. The tumour recurrence is 20%.

Microinvasive Cancer Microinvasive sqamous epithelioma is

common, melanoma is very rare and detected hystologically.

It is a single lesion measuring 2cm or less with a depth of invasion not more than 1cm.

It is stage 1 A of figo staging . Multiple foci even depth < 1cm are not

included in this classification. Simple excision with sentinel lymph node

sampling is best mode of treatment. When lymph node is involved radical surgery is

better than radiotherapy.

Invasive Carcinoma Of Vulva Epidemiology 1.Accounts for 2-4% of genital cancers. 2. Common in elderly women 6-7th

decade(60%).Rest before 60yrs of age. 3.Now it is being reported in young patients-

smoking,STD,HIVand HPV infection. 4. vulval cancer is associated with Ca Cx and

ovarian cancer IN 20% cases., may be due to infection in forma and advancing age in later case.

5.Nulliparous and woman of low parity are more disposed to vulval cancer.

Invasive Cancer Of Vulva Aetiology - Causes are same as that of VIN. The lesion associated with VIN or

dystrophy progress to invasive carcinoma of vulva.

-However VIN always does not preceed invasive carcinoma as seen in cervical cancer.

Invasive Cancer Vulva 80% complain of pruritus ,lump ,swelling or ulcer. Lump may be raised papular area with pigmentation. Ulcer has everted margins and idurated base.Surronding

skin may be fissured, cracked and inflamed. Leucoplakic or dystrophic area may also be

present.,may be single or multiple foci . Labia major is commonly involved but clitoris,perineal

area may also be involved. Anterior 2/3rd area is involved more. Ulcerative lesions bleed and offensively smell. Pain is late feature when nerve are infiltrated. Inguinal L.N. may be palpable. Urethral, rectal symptoms may be preset when cancer

spread to them.

Invasive carcinoma of Vulva Differential Diagnosis Tubercular ulcer. Syphilitic condiloma/ulcer Elephantiasis of vulva. Soft sore and Lymhogranuloma Excision biopsy will help .

Staging Of carcinoma Vulva(FIGO)

Stage 0--Intra epthelial,Bowe’s,Paget’s disease and dystrophy with atypia.

Stage IA— single microinvasive cancer lesion <1cm invasion and no lymphatic infiltration.

Stage IB– Lesion < 2cm with No suspicious lymph glands.(15% +ve lymph

node)Stage II– Lesion > 2cm ,no suspicious lymph

nodes(30%+ve lymph node)

Stages of Cancer Vulva(FIGO) Stage III– 1.lesion of any kind extending

beyond vulva. 2.Unilateral lymph node

ivolmentStage IV A---lesion ivading any of these

structures-urethra, bladder,rectal mucosa, pelvic bone and/ Bilateral lymph nodes.

Stage IV B—Distant metastesis , pelvic lymph nodes.

Spread of Vulvar Cancer 1. Direct spread to the adjacent organs. 2.By lymphatics. Blood born metastesis are rare. At first superficial inguinal LN are invaded by

embolism. later lymphatic channel permeation occurs causing blockade and lymph edema of vulva & leg.

Deep L N are involved via Cloquet -to the external iliac, internal iliac, obturator and common iliac deep pelvic LN.

Centrally located lesion usually invade contra lateral nodes in 25%cases.

Spread of cancer of vulva---- Lymph Nodes not clinically suspicious

may have +ve metastasis in 25% cases.

Inguinal L N are involved in--- Stage I—10% Stage II– 30% Stage III—70% Stage IV– 100%

Investigations

Diagnostic investigation includes--- Punch or excision biopsy. cystoscopy. PR, Anoscopy,Proctoscopy. X Ray Chest and log bones. CT and MRI for Lymph Node’s metastasis. Lymphangiography---superior to CT/MRI.Mapping is done by Intra operative intra dermal

injection of blue dye around the lesion, detection rate –100%

-Labeling tissue with radio active tracer and localization with handheld detector.

- Lymphoscintigraphy—100% detection rate.

Treatment Of Cancer Vulva

Stage I Lateral lesion <2cm can be delt by partial vulvectomy with the margins 3cm beyond the growth-or Unilateral vulvctomy, accompanied by ipsilateral lymphadenectomy.If frozen section reveals no metastasis ., nothing more is needed. if LN +ve for cancer cells contra lateral node dissection is must. Pelvic node dissection is required if cloquet LN is involved .,or pelvic gland’s radiotherapy may be given post operatively.

Rx of Ca vulva-----

Stage IITumour between2-4cm will require total vulvectomy and Lymph node dissection/ pelvic radiotherapy.

Tumour <4cm poorly diffrentiated /melanoma/ adenocarcinoma –nothing less than Radical vulvectomy ,bilateral inguinal LN and pelvic LN dissection is needed. Separate Incision for vulvectomy and inguinal dissection on either side are used ,so primary closure of wound is possible or ½ thickness skin graft is used.

Rx of Ca Vulva

Stage III Mega voltage Radiotherapy 4000- 5000 rads over a period of 5 weeks.

Shrunken lesion can locally excised. Local recurrence can be treated by chemotherapy.

Stage IV It is treated by chemotherapy and/radiotherapy. Anal involvement is treated by infusion of 5-Fu and Mytomycin-C Followed by radiotherapy 300rads over 3 weeks.

- 5Fu 750 mg / m 2 is given DAILY FOR 3-5 days and Mytomycin-C 10mg/m2 bolous given on 1st day.Cisplatinum is also given now a days with good out come.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy avoids exentration which carry high mortality and morbidity,.

-Local excision of residual tumor may be required.

Results of treatment and 5 year survival rates

Figo Staging 5 years survival rate

Stage I 90% Stage II 80% Stage III About

50% Stage IV About

15% Total About

60%

Way & Taussig’s Radical vulvectomy 1935

Extensively wide incision for radical vulvectomy + bilateral inguinal and pelvic lymphadectomy---has undergone radical modification in present era.

Radical surgery can cause---wound infection,slouhging,haemohrrage.lymph loss, lymph edema, thromboembolism and High primary Mortality.

Late sequels are lymph edema, scarring, disfigurement, dyspareunia,lymphoma, edema legs. Urinary incontinence.

Bartholin Gland’s tumor

It is a rare unilateral tumor. It is commonly Adeno carcinoma Carries a poor prognosis. Redical vulvectomy is the treatment

treatment. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can

also be added.

Vulval Sarcoma

Rare tumor . Occurs in reatively young woman. Treatment is local excision. Distant metastasis are common. Chemotherapy is also helpful Prognosis is very poor.

Rodent ulcer

This common lesion presents as ulcer which keeps invading deeper tissues.

Biopsy reveals Basal carcinoma. It is locally malignant. It respond well to wide excision. Persistent cancer Persistent cancer is one

which develop within 6 months of primary treatment.

Secondary growth of the Vulva.

It occurs following metastasis from chorio carcinoma, Endometrial and Ovarian cancer.

Treated by radiotherapy and chemotherapy . 50% recurrent growths are seen after 2years

of Rx of primary lesion. More common when primary lesion was large and Lymph Nodes were involved.

RX– exenteration ,radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Recurrent growth occur due to incmplete excision.

Prognostic factors

Prognosis depends over size of tumor, grading, staging, how much excision is being done , inguinal and/ pelvic LN positivity.

Immune status of woman Age and operability of patient. Hystolgical type of tumor.