Ten Year Experience of Epidemiological Trends and Clinical Pattern of Vulvar Tumor

Abstract

Objectives: Vulvar tumor is a relatively uncommon female genito-urinary tumor, occurs mainly in post-menopausal females. Incidence and patterns of vulvar tumor differ from nation to nation, depending upon multiple factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological patterns and clinical profile of vulvar tumor in our institution retrospectively. Methods: This is a retrospective study done in a regional cancer centre of India over10-years period. Data of all vulvar tumor patients, regarding demographic profile and tumor characteristics were collected from record section and reviewed. These data were analysed to get an idea about clinic-epidemiological trends of vulvar malignancy. Results: Total 47-patients with biopsy proven vulvar malignancy were found. Mean age at presentation was 63.4 years. Majority of the patients belonged to rural origin, were post-menopausal and multiparous. Most of them had pruritus as typical presenting symptoms. Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma constituted the major bulk. Labia was the commonest site of presentation. Bilateralism was found in one-third among them, inguinal lymphadenopathy and extensive disease were found in five and four patients, respectively. Conclusions: The hallmark about the present article is that it was conducted in the only referral cancer institute of this state. Limited studies from different region of India have published local patients’ data on vulvar tumor. A nationwide collaboration in this regard will help to understand the exact burden of this relatively rare malignancy, epidemiological trends and risk factors as well as an idea about how to manage these patients.

Keywords

• epidemiology; labia; postmenopausal; squamous cell carcinoma; vulvar tumor