Vulvar cancer natural history
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
Natural history
- In younger age group, HPV infection can be the cause of vulvar cancer. Vulvar cancer may be associated vulvar dermatoses, such as lichen sclerosus, especially in older age group.
- Patient has early symptoms like ulcer on vulva, chronic puritius of the vulva, lichenification, and wart-like patches on vulva.
- As the tumor grows larger, patient may notice symptoms like unusual bleeding or discharge from the lesion, large mass on the vulva, dysuria and dysparunia.
- In advanced disease, metastases may be present in the abdomen, lungs.
- The patient may present with dyspnea, cough with blood-stained sputum, persistent pain or discomfort in the chest, edema hands/feet, and inguinal lymphadenopathy.
- Once the cancer spreads to the other organs, it is most likely fatal.
Complications
Prognosis
The prognosis of vulvar cancer shows overall about a 75% five year survival rate, but, of course, individually affected by many factors, notably stage and type of the lesion and age and general medical health. Five-year survival is down to about 20% when pelvic lymph nodes are involved but better than 90% for patients with stage I lesions. Thus early diagnosis is imperative. Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva survival
| Stage | 5-year relative survival (%) |
| I | 93% |
| II | 79% |
| III | 53% |
| 1V | 29% |