Abstract
Vulvar squamous cell carcinomas account for 90% of all vulvar cancers and originate following two different pathways. Approximately 20% of all vulvar squamous cell carcinomas are caused by an infection with high-risk human papillomavirus. It has been hypothesized that most of these vulvar cancers may be prevented by the recently introduced human papillomavirus 16/18 vaccines. However, the majority of vulvar cancers develop in a background of lichen sclerosus and differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, of which the exact oncogenesis is unknown. Surgery is the cornerstone of therapy and has evolved from a radical vulvectomy with en bloc bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy to a less radical approach. In this review, this evolution is described, with the sentinel node procedure as the most recent development. In addition, attention is paid to prognostic factors and recurrence patterns.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Notes
*The depth of invasions is defined as the measurement of the tumor from the epithelial–stromal junction of the adjacent most superficial dermal papilla to the deepest point of invasion.
Data from Citation[24].