Vulvar cancer - causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Cancer of the vulva is a rarely diagnosed malignant tumor of the external genital organs of a woman: the labia and clitoris. The risk of developing it increases after age 60. At first, the disease is asymptomatic. If you experience anxiety symptoms, you should quickly consult a doctor. Why is it important? What is worth knowing?

1. What is vulvar cancer?

Cancer of the vulva that is abnormal and continuous tumor cell proliferation derived from epithelial cells of the vulva is a rare disease. It accounts for several percent of all malignant neoplasms located in the genital area.

This group of vulvar skin lesions is characterized by excessive growth or thinning of the epithelium. It includes:

• squamous cell hyperplasia: HPV DNA is usually found in its cells. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common cancer of the vulva and occurs in more than 90% of cases.
• less often lichen sclerosus.

2. Symptoms of vulvar cancer

Cancer of the vulva can develop asymptomatic, it may also be accompanied by symptoms such as:

• pruritus
• bakery,
• discomfort
• pain

What do the hands of the vulva look like? Depending on the stage of the disease, medical examination is carried out sick, drip stone or cauliflower growth.

3. Causes of vulvar cancer

Most precancerous conditions of the vulva develop due to infections. HPV virus (type 16). The second group of vulvar neoplasms includes lesions that are not associated with HPV and occur on the soil of the substrate. chronic inflammatory changes.

A lot of risk factors get vulvar cancer. They can contribute both to the development of the disease process and the pace of its course.

Basically it's age. Most vulvar cancer develops in women over 60 years of age, although this disease is also diagnosed in younger women. The largest number of cases of vulvar cancer occurs in women aged 70-80 years.

Another risk factor is infectious diseases. A history of infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2, especially human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, and syphilis or inguinal granulomabut also chlamydial infections. The relationship between HPV infection and the development of vulvar cancer, which occurs much more often in young patients who smoke cigarettes and have a large number of sexual partners, has been confirmed.

They are not meaningless genetic factorsespecially mutations in the p53 gene. A change in its activity can lead to the uncontrolled reproduction of abnormal cells and, ultimately, to the development of cancer.

4. Diagnosis of vulvar cancer

The prognosis for vulvar cancer depends on the stage of the disease neoplastic process. However, it should be emphasized that in most cases the disease is diagnosed only at an advanced stage. The matter is complicated by the fact that there are no screening tests for the early detection of tumors of the vulva.

As already mentioned, depending on the stage of the disease, a medical examination reveals ulceration, infiltration or cauliflower growth. Further detailed diagnostics are then recommended.

Additional tests done on patients with vulvar cancer include:

• pap smear,
• vulvoscopy,
• transvaginal swab,
• chest radiograph,
• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity.

Any disturbing changes in the vulva are confirmed by histological examination of the sample taken.

5. Vulvar Cancer Treatment

Surgical treatment can be based on both excision of the lesionradical removal of the vulva. The volume of the operation depends on the size of the tumor, the location of the focus of the disease, the condition of the lymph nodes and the general condition of the woman.

The adjuvant treatment is radiation therapy after surgical removal of metastatic lymph nodes. It is also a radical treatment when surgery is not possible.

On the other hand, chemotherapy is used before surgery to reduce the mass of the tumor and increase the likelihood of surgery. Independent vulvar cancer chemotherapy It is also used in relapsed patients who do not respond to topical treatments.

In patients for whom surgery or radiation therapy is contraindicated, palliative care. Then chemotherapy is given to stop the progression of the disease.

Vulvar cancer metastasizes through the lymphatic system. Ignoring the changes that have occurred can lead to the spread of the disease to neighboring tissues and cause changes in other organs. If detected early in the vulva, this is not associated with metastases to lymph nodesthe prognosis is good.

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