Carcinoma of the vulva in Trinidad: its clinical presentation and outcome - abstract

ABSTRACT

Carcinoma of the vulva comprises less than 3 percent of all gynaecological cancers. A review of the status of this relatively rare carcinoma in 24 Trinidadian women found 75 percent to be menopausal and 96 percent to be symptomatic with a mean duration of symptoms of 18 months. An advanced stage of disease was found in 70.7 percent and this, together with co-existing medical problems, accounted for the low operability rate of 68.4 percent. All 14 surgical cases suffered varying degrees of morbidity and there were 2 deaths. The 6 women who were deemed unsuitable for surgery died within months of presentation. Four of the 5 women with carcinoma in-situ benefited from excision-biopsy and remain disease free. Late diagnosis mainly due to a delay in clinical presentation adversely affected management. Improved health education concerning vulval diseases as well as closer clinical scrutiny of the vulva in symptomatic menopausal women would allow for earlier diagnosis and so reduce the unfavourable sentiments which surround this carcinoma (AU)