Complications following combined surgery (radical vulvectomy versus wide local excision) and radiotherapy for the treatment of carcinoma of the vulva: report of 73 patients.

Abstract

Cancer of the vulva is uncommon, accounting for only 5% of all gynecologic malignancies, and usually occurs in women over 60 years of age. The historic treatment of choice for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva is radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy, which has produced excellent long-term survival. We retrospectively analyzed the complications of wide local excision plus postoperative radiotherapy compared with those of radical vulvectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy plus pre-or postoperative radiotherapy in 73 patients with vulvar cancer. There were no significant differences among these treatments in terms of primary tumor control, 5-year disease-free survival, and overall survival. Based on these results, the best treatment alternative for advanced vulvar cancer is wide local excision plus radiotherapy, as this method retains the high survival of traditional therapy but has less morbidity.

• Authors: O Balat, C Edwards, L Delclos
• Journal: European journal of gynaecological oncology (Eur J Gynaecol Oncol) Vol. 21 Issue 5 Pg. 501-3 ( 2000) ISSN: 0392-2936 [Print] Singapore
• PMID: 11198043 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (radiotherapy, surgery)
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (radiotherapy, surgery)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Gynecologic Surgical Procedures (adverse effects, methods)
• Humans
• Lymph Node Excision (adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Radiotherapy (adverse effects)
• Retrospective Studies
• Vulvar Neoplasms (radiotherapy, surgery)