Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as adjuvant for treating wound complications after extensive resection for vulvar malignancy.

INTRODUCTION: Necrosis, wound breakdown, and infection represent major complications associated with radical vulvectomy. We aimed to analyze the feasibility of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy as an adjunctive treatment for such complications. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records, clinical charts, and operative records of vulvar cancer patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy after extensive surgical resection in our institute between 2012 and 2016, with a comparison of the clinical outcomes of patients with similar surgical procedures andsevere wound complications who did not undergo HBO2. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients were included in the study. In the subgroup treated with HBO2, seven patients were identified. Two patients had primary surgery, while five had recurrent surgery (of these, two had previously undergone radiation therapy). Six patients received reconstructive flaps (five myocutaneous and onefasciocutaneous), while one patient had primary suture. Dehiscence, ischemia and necrosis were estimated to cover 30%-80% of the surgical surface area. Surgical debridement was performed in six patients. Daily 90-minute sessions in the hyperbaric chamber were performed at a pressure of 2.2 atmospheres absolute, with partial oxygen pressure of 1672 mbar. Infection control and satisfactory healing were achieved using 10-61 sessions. All patients in the subgroup who did not receive HBO2 required surgical debridement due to partial or near-total flap necrosis, with two reconstructive interventions required. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was an efficient adjuvant for wound healing and infection control in managing wound complications after extensive vulvar resections.

Evidencia empírica de la miel como tratamiento eficaz. En la dehiscecia de sutura tras vulvectomía radical / Empirical evidence of honey as an effective treatment for wound dehiscence after a radical vulvectomy

El cáncer de vulva es uno de los tumores ginecológicos menos frecuentes. La mutilación producida por cirugías radicales, como la vulvectomía, pueden ocasionar importantes secuelas físicas, psíquicas y sexuales en la mujer. El caso clínico que presentamos es el de una mujer de 83 años diagnosticada de cáncer de vulva, a la que se intervino en nuestro centro por recidiva local y que presentó dehiscencia de la cicatriz pocos días después de la cirugía. Nuestro objetivo es mostrar que la cura con miel es una alternativa eficaz, por sus propiedades curativas, en la cura de dehiscencias en las vulvectomías, además de ser una terapia barata, accesible y fácil de aplicar (AU)

Vulvar cancer is one of the less common gynecological tumors. Nevertheless, the mutilation produced by a radical surgery such as the vulvectomy can cause important sequels in women, both physical and psychological. We present a clinical case of an 83-year-old woman diagnosed with vulvar cancer, who underwent a radical vulvectomy after local recurrence at our hospital. She presented a wound dehiscence a few days after the surgery. Our aim is to discuss that honey is an effective alternative cure of wound dehiscence in vulvectomy due to its healing properties; it is also a cheaper treatment, accessible, and easy to apply (AU)

High Incidence of Erysipelas After Surgical Treatment for Vulvar Carcinoma: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: Vulvar carcinoma is mainly treated surgically and has an overall good prognosis. Despite the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures in recent years, morbidity remains significant. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of erysipelas after surgical treatment for vulvar carcinoma. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was performed within the Comprehensive Cancer Centre South. The study included patients (N = 116) who underwent surgery for primary vulvar carcinoma between 2005 and 2012. Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA and IV were excluded. Clinical and histopathological data were analyzed using logistic regression, χ(2) tests, Fisher exact tests, independent t tests, and nonparametric tests. Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative erysipelas and determination of risk factors for erysipelas. Secondary outcome included other comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients (20%) with vulvar carcinoma had 1 or more episodes of erysipelas. The risk of developing erysipelas was significantly higher in patients who underwent lymph node dissection than in those who underwent sentinel node biopsy (36% [n = 12] and 14% [n = 11], respectively, P = 0.008) and in patients with lymphedema than in those without (30% [n = 7] and 12% [n = 11], respectively, P = 0.048). Patients with diabetes tended to have a higher incidence of erysipelas than those without (28% vs 18%, P = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: Erysipelas occurs frequently in patients who undergo surgical treatment for vulvar carcinoma. The risk of erysipelas is 3 times higher in patients who undergo lymph node dissection and in those with lymphedema than in those without, and it tends to be high in patients with diabetes.

Successful centralisation of patients with vulvar carcinoma: a population-based study in The Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: In general, centralisation of care for patients with rare malignancies is advised in order to improve outcome with respect to prognosis and treatment related morbidity. Therefore, centralisation of women with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is an extremely rare tumour, has been advocated by the national guidelines of the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2000. The objective of this study was to determine whether this advice has been adapted and has led to improved survival. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with vulvar malignancies between 1989 and 2008 in the Eastern part of the Netherlands were retrieved from the population-based cancer registry held by the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The Netherlands. Patient- and tumour characteristics and vital status until January 2011 were retrieved. Data of patients diagnosed in two periods (before and after release of the guideline; 1989-1999 and 2000-2008) were compared. Relative survival rates were calculated as a good approximation of cause-specific survival. RESULTS: A total number of 382 patients with vulvar SCC with invasion > 1mm, who had an indication for groin surgery, were included in the analysis. In the first decade 62% (123 of 198 patients) were treated in a specialised oncology centre, which increased to 93% (172 of 184 patients) in the more recent period. Overall, the 5 year relative survival improved slightly from 69% (95% confidence interval (CI) 60-77%) to 75% (95% CI 65-83%). After adjustment for age and stage, being treated in a specialised oncology centre was an independent prognostic factor for survival. CONCLUSION: Centralisation of care for vulvar SCC patients has been well adopted in the Eastern part of the Netherlands. Being treated in a specialised oncology centre was associated with a better survival after adjustment for age and stage.

Preoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced vulvar carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a rapidly maturing technology that allows delivery of radiation dose in a more conformal manner by varying the radiation beams spatially or temporally. The purpose of the study was to assess the clinical outcome in patients with locally-advanced vulvar cancers treated using preoperative chemotherapy with IMRT. METHODS: Eighteen patients with stage II-IVA cancer were treated with a modified GOG schema using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin with twice-daily (BID) IMRT during the first and last weeks of treatment. Surgery was planned for 6-8 weeks post-treatment. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 22 months (2-60 months). Fourteen patients had surgery performed with pathological complete response (pCR) in 9 (64%) patients and partial response (pPR) in 5 patients. There were no recurrences in the 9 patients who achieved pCR whereas 3/5 with pPR had local recurrence (p=0.027). Four patients did not have surgery: one patient died a week after treatment while 2 of the remaining 3 patients had local recurrences. Acute desquamative skin reactions in the vulva and perineum were seen in all patients. Three of the 14 patients who had surgery had prolonged wound complications requiring debridement. No patients had radiation-related acute or late toxicity of grade = 3. The 2-year cause specific and overall survivals were 75% and 70% respectively. CONCLUSION: Preoperative chemotherapy and IMRT were well tolerated with good clinical response and early clinical outcome. Pathological complete response predicts better outcomes. Prospective clinical trials with sufficient patient numbers and follow-up are needed to determine the true impact of IMRT in these patients.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for the treatment of vulvar carcinoma: a comparative dosimetric study with early clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess early clinical outcome of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in the treatment of vulvar cancer and compare dosimetric parameters with 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT). METHODS: Fifteen patients with vulvar cancer were treated with IMRT. Seven patients were treated with preoperative chemoradiation, and 8 patients were treated with adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy. Median dose was 46 Gy in the preoperative and 50.4 Gy in the postoperative group. RESULTS: The mean volume of small bowel, rectum, and bladder that received doses in excess of 30 Gy with IMRT was reduced when compared with 3D CRT. Treatment was well tolerated, and only 1 patient had acute Grade 3 small-bowel toxicity. Median follow-up was 12 months. In the preoperative group, 5 patients (71%) had clinical complete response and 3 patients (42.8%) had pathologic complete response. In the adjuvant group, 2 patients had recurrences in the treatment field. No patients had late Grade 3 toxicity. The 2-year actuarial disease-specific survival was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Intensity-modulated RT appears to offer advantages over 3D CRT treatment of vulvar cancer by elimination of dose modulation across overlapping regions and reduction of unnecessary dose to the bladder, rectum, and small bowel. Early results with a small number of patients show promising results, with a low incidence of severe toxicity.

Low-dose 5-fluorouracil adjuvant in laser therapy for HPV lesions in immunosuppressed patients and cases of difficult control.

The authors established a protocol for the use of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) adjuvant in lasertherapy for clinical and subclinical HPV infection in immunosuppressed patients, persistent lesions and as reinforcement treatment in cases of poor progress. Sixty-four patients were evaluated, of whom 26 were immunosuppressed, 34 presented persistent lesions and four received intravaginal reinforcement treatment with 2.5 g 5% 5FU every two weeks, or biweekly vulvar reinforcement after lasertherapy. On average, five 5FU courses were used, but in the immunossuppressed patients its use was maintained indefinitely. The rate of complete response was 66%, but the immunossuppressed patients showed less response (46.2%) when compared with the persistent lesion/reinforcement treatment group (78.9%). The responses were positive in the two groups when compared to that with no response. We deem the use of low-dose 5FU an excellent alternative in cases of difficult HPV progress, presenting a low cost and minimal side-effects.

Chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in the treatment of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute and late toxicities associated with the use of chemoradiation therapy (CRT) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C or mitomycin C alone for primary, adjuvant, and salvage therapy for vulvar cancer. METHODS: Medical charts of 17 patients who received CRT with this regimen were reviewed. Toxicity was scored by 1998 standardized common toxicity criteria, Version 2.0, for acute toxicity and the RTOG/EORT Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Schema for late toxicity. Median follow-up was 20 months (range: 5-74 months). RESULTS: Six patients had grade 4 neutropenia. In three patients, life-threatening neutropenic sepsis developed after the second cycle of chemotherapy. Severe enterocolitis was a direct cause of death in two patients. In four patients, the second cycle of chemotherapy was cancelled because of severe toxicity associated with the first cycle. One patient had grade 4 skin toxicity in the vulvar-perineal area. Six patients had grade 3 and seven patients had grade 2 acute skin toxicity. Skin toxicity necessitated the interruption of CRT in nine patients at a median dose of 32.4 Gy (range: 16.2-48 Gy). One patient developed bowel perforation and colovaginal fistula 1.5 years after completion of CRT. CONCLUSION: Chemoradiation therapy utilizing 5-FU and mitomycin C or mitomycin C alone in the treatment of vulvar cancer can be associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. Strict attention to indications for treatment interruptions or chemotherapy dose adjustments is obligatory for safe delivery of CRT to these patients.

Leiomiosarcoma de la vulva / Leiomyosarcoma of the vulva

Se presenta un caso de leiomiosarcoma de la vulva (LMS-V), tumor maligno de frecuencia excepcional; según la extensa revisión bibliográfica efectuada, el aquí recogido tendría el número 47 de los publicados. El seguimiento comprende más de 5 años y la evolución ha sido favorable. Se analizan la apariencia clínica de benignidad, los criterios histológicos para su caracterización y gradación histológicas y los tratamientos empleados, de los cuales el tratamiento quirúrgico primario con suficiente margen de seguridad parece ser el más eficaz para conseguir una evolución favorable (AU)

CO2 laser surgery for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Excisional, destructive and combined techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CO2 laser excision, vaporization and combined techniques for treatment of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-nine cases of VIN 3, 15 cases of VIN 2 and 9 of VIN 1, for a total of 63 patients with histologically proven VIN, underwent laser excision or vaporization under colposcopic guidance, using local anesthesia, in an outpatient setting or after day-surgery admission. Clinical aspects, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) association, types of CO2 laser treatment, follow-up, recurrences and second treatments were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-seven (41.3%) patients underwent laser vaporization, and 37 (58.7%) with VIN 3, underwent laser excision or the combined technique. Colposcopic and biopsy examinations of patients with VIN revealed three cases of CIN 3 and nine cases of VaIN 3; two patients had concomitant VIN 3, CIN 3 and VaIN 3. Local anesthesia, using 2% carbocaine, and outpatient or day-surgery treatments were possible in all cases. A small incidence of intraoperative complications (4.8%) and absence of postoperative complications were observed. A single session was curative in 76.9% of patients treated with laser vaporization and in 78.4% of those treated with laser excision. Eleven cases of recurrent VIN and two cases of invasive vulvar carcinoma were observed during follow-up. A second laser procedure was carred out in all cases of relapsed VIN, with an overall cure rate of 96.8% after two treatments. Radical vulvectomy associated with inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy was performed in the two cases of invasive carcinoma. CONCLUSION: CO2 laser surgery permits treatment of VIN in an outpatient or day-surgery setting under local anesthesia with excellent cosmetic and functional results. The treatment can also be adjusted to the patient's specific needs, with the possibility of calibrating the depth of the vaporized and removed tissues. Excisional treatment is the preferred method because it permits histologic evaluation of the excised tissue and detection of possible occult early invasion.

Carcinoma de células de Merkel en vulva / Merkel cell carcinoma in vulva

El carcinoma de células de Merkel es un tumor muy frecuente. La localización vulvar es aún más rara, y su evolución es diferente con respecto a las ubicaciones extragenitales. Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente de treinta años cuyo estudio histopatológicos de una lesión vulvar con inmunohistoquímica confirmó un Carcinoma de células de Merkel. Se realizó una hemivulvectomía y linfadenectomía ipsilateral. Considerando los resultados de la biopsia y otros antecedentes se decide no realizar tratamiento complementario y controlar a la paciente periódicamente. La paciente se ha mantenido hasta la fecha libre de enfermedad durante cuatro años de seguimiento. Se discuten los actuales métodos diagnósticos, enfoques terapéuticos y pronósticos de esta patología poco conocida, que cuenta con aproximadamente quinientos casos publicados a nivel internacional de los cuales alrededor de diez corresponden a tumores de localización vulvar

Enfermedad epitelial no neoplásica y carcinoma vulvar: experiencia en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile / Non neoplastic epithelial disease and vulvar carcinoma: experience at Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile

Se presenta la experiencia del autor, en la Enfermedad Epitelial No Neoplásica (EENN) y carcinoma vulvar. Se analizaron 18 pacientes operadas de patología vulvar tumoral en el período comprendido entre enero de 1987 y junio de 1998, en el Servicio de Ginecología, de estos 12 correspondieron a EENN y 6 a carcinoma vulvar. El 100 por ciento de pacientes con EENN consultaron por prurio vulvar, no asi en el carcinoma vulvar en el cual los síntomas fueron variados. El tiempo de evolución de la sintomatología fue en general prolongado, 4 años en promedio para la EENN y 5 años en promedio para carcinoma vulvar. El test de Collins fue positivo en 3 a 12 pacientes con EENN y en 3 de 6 con carcinoma vulvar. Todas las pacientes fueron sometidas a biopsias preporatorias, con una correlación con la postoperatoria de 83,4 por ciento. Resultado de las biopsias post operatorias fue el siguiente: Hiperplasia escamosa sin atipías 10 (55,6 por ciento), Liquen escleroso 2 (11,1 por ciento), Carcinoma microinvasor 1 (5,6 por ciento) y Carcinoma invasor 3 (16,7 por ciento). La evolución post operatoria fue adecuada en EENN, no presentando complicaciones y siendo dadas de alta en promedio de 1 día. En la neoplasia vulvar, 4 pacientes presentaron complicaciones que se manejaron médicamente y fueron dadas de alta en promedio de 8 días. En el caso de pacientes con EENN, 2 presentaron reaparición del prurito vulvar (al año y 8 años). Una paciente con carcinoma vulvar invasor y compromiso ganglionar falleció a los 5 años de un cuadro abdominal no precisado

Modified radical vulvectomy without lymphadenectomy under local anesthesia in medically compromised patients.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to review our experience with vulvar cancer treated with modified radical vulvectomy without lymphadenectomy under local anesthesia and sedation. METHODS: A retrospective review of surgical case lists revealed five patients who underwent modified radical vulvectomy without lymphadenectomy under local anesthesia with sedation. All patients had significant medical diseases which precluded regional or general anesthesia. Modified radical vulvectomy was performed in standard fashion under sedation and local anesthesia. Inguinal lymphadenectomy was not performed. RESULTS: Median operative time was 1.5 h and median blood loss was 100 cc. Median diameter of tissue resected was 5 cm and median depth was 5 cm. Median length of hospital stay was 4 days. No patient complained of pain during the operative procedure. At a median follow-up of 2.5 years, there has been one local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Five patients with symptomatic vulvar cancer who were not candidates for regional or general anesthesia underwent modified radical vulvectomy without lymphadenectomy under local anesthesia with sedation. The procedure was well-tolerated and produced minimal morbidity and adequate short-term local control.

[A case of FIGO stage IV A vulvar cancer successfully treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with continuous intra-arterial infusion (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil)].

The subject was a patient who had squamous cell carcinoma in the pudendum and the inguinal region (12.5 x 8.0 cm and 4.5 x 3.0 cm, respectively). A curative operation for FIGO IV A stage (T3N3M0) vulvar cancer is thought to be difficult to perform and is resistant to BOMP therapy, so continuous arterial infusion therapy consisting of cisplatin (CDDP, 10 mg/day, day 2-4, one shot) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 250 mg/day, day 1-4, continuous) was performed weekly via bilateral femoral arteries to the lower end of the branches of bilateral superior gluteal arteries. In consequence, the tumor started to clearly shrink from the first week. After treatment with total doses of 210 mg of CDDP and 7,000 mg of 5-FU, the patient underwent complete resection of the tumor without skin grafting, and a histological efficacy of Grade 1-b or above was obtained. No adverse reactions were found, and the free Pt AUC in the peripheral blood was 0.85 mg.hr/l per course. Pt concentration in the pudendum 2 hours after CDDP therapy was 2.9 micrograms/g. Because of little adverse reaction and high efficacy, this method appeared to be a therapeutic method worth considering from the viewpoint of the quality of life of patients with the progressive vulvar cancer prevalent in elderly persons.

Concurrent preoperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C and radiotherapy (FUMIR) followed by limited surgery in locally advanced and recurrent vulvar carcinoma.

To prospectively evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy locally advanced or recurrent vulvar carcinoma, 58 patients referring for primary (41) or recurrent (17) disease received preoperative external radiotherapy to a dose of 54 Gy, divided into two courses with an interval of 2 weeks. 5-Fluorouracil (750 mg/m2 daily for 5 days) and mitomycin-C (15 mg/m2 single bolus) were given at the start of each cycle. Wide local excision and inguinal lymphadenectomy were planned after treatment. Eighty-nine percent of patients completed the chemoradiotherapeutic treatment, whereas 72% underwent surgery. Objective responses were observed in 80% of vulvar diseases and in 79% of groin metastases. Pathologic complete response of both the vulvar and inguinal disease was confirmed in 13 patients (31%). Early severe toxicity was recorded in 3 patients and severe worsening of performance status in 3. Three deaths occurred shortly after treatment and at least one is directly related to toxic effects. This treatment allows good control of locally advanced and recurrent vulvar cancer with acceptable side effects. Further follow-up is required to determine the long-term outcome and the effectiveness of the surgical procedure.

Topical use of 5-fluorouracil for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the external genitalia of horses: 11 cases (1988-1992).

Ten horses with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 1 horse with presumptive SCC of the external genitalia were treated with a combination of surgical debridement and topical administration of 5-fluorouracil, or with topical treatment alone. Tumor remission was obtained in all horses except 1 in which owner compliance was deficient, and no recurrences have been reported. Topical use of 5-fluorouracil as a chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of genital lesions of SCC in horses should be considered as a viable alternative to radical surgical excision.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy following radical vulvectomy: an adjunctive therapy to improve wound healing.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of postoperative hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on wound breakdown following radical vulvectomy. A prospective, observational study was performed on patients undergoing radical vulvectomy from October 1990 to March 1993 at Scott and White Memorial Hospital, Temple, Texas. HBO therapy was initiated in the postoperative period. Retrospective review of all patients coded as radical vulvectomy from 1987 to 1990 provides for a historical comparison. Eight patients were enrolled in the study. Six patients had radical vulvectomies with lymph node dissections (LND) and two did not. One wound breakdown was observed in the HBO-treated patients. Retrospective review identified 22 patients as having undergone radical vulvectomy with or without LND. Seven of 9 patients with LND and 3 of 13 without LND had wound breakdowns. A significant difference (P = 0.035) was found comparing patients treated with LND and HBO to retrospective controls with LND. Hospitalization was shorter in the HBO-treated patients. This small study showed a reduction in wound breakdown for patients undergoing radical vulvectomy with LND and HBO therapy compared to similar patients not treated with HBO. This observation supports the need for randomized studies examining the efficacy of HBO therapy in this group of patients.

[Local anesthesia in CO2 laser treatment of disseminated therapy-resistant condylomata]. / Lokalanaestesi ved CO2-laserbehandling af udbredte terapiresistente kondylomer.

In an open prospective study 67 patients with refractory genital warts, irrespective of anatomic localization, received CO2-laser vaporization in local anaesthesia, using lidocaine 2% as the local anaesthetic. Sufficient anaesthesia was obtained in all treated patients, with minor pain as the only side effect observed. A single CO2-laser treatment resulted in disappearance of the lesions in 37 (55%) of the patients. Repeated CO2-laser vaporizations in patients with recurrent disease increased the cure rate to 85%. The response rate seemed unaffected by the localization of the warts. It is concluded, that local anaesthesia might replace general anaesthesia in the treatment of patients with multiple refractory genital warts.