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Vulvar cancer: a review for dermatologists

Maligne Tumore der Vulva: eine Übersicht für den Dermatologen

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Summary

Vulvar malignancies are important tumors of the female reproductive system. They represent a serious health issue with an incidence between 2 and 7 per 100,000 and year. We provide a review about most important cancer entities, i.e., melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine cancer, and skin adnexal malignancies.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common vulvar malignancy that can develop from vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia or de novo. Basal cell carcinoma represents only 2 % of all vulvar cancers. Melanoma of the vulva exists in two major types—superficial spreading and acral lentiginous. A special feature is the occurrence of multiple vulvar melanomas. Of the adnexal cancer types Paget’s disease and carcinoma are seen more frequently than other adnexal malignancies. The dermatologist should be aware of this problem, since he might be the first to be consulted by patients for vulvar disease. Treatment should be interdisciplinary in close association to gynecologists, oncologists, and radiologists.

Zusammenfassung

Maligne Tumore der Vulva stellen wichtige Neoplasien des weiblichen Reproduktionssystems dar. Sie stellen ein erhebliches Gesundheitsproblem dar bei einer Inzidenz zwischen 2 und 7 pro 100,000 und Jahr. Wir berichten in dieser Übersicht über die wichtigsten Krebsentitäten: das Melanom, das Plattenepithelkarzinom, das Basalzellkarzinom, neuroendokrine Malignome und Tumoren der Hautadnexe.

Das Plattenepithelkarzinom stellt die häufigste Vulva-Neoplasie dar. Es kann sich aus einer vulvären intraepithelialen Neoplasie oder de novo entwickeln.

Basalzellkarzinome repräsentieren nur 2 % aller Vulvakarzinome. Das Melanom der Vulva tritt in zwei Haupttypen auf - dem superfiziell spreitenden und dem akrolentiginösen Typ. Eine Besonderheit ist das Vorkommen multipler Vulva-Melanome. Unter den adnexalen Tumoren sind der Morbus Paget und das pagekt-Karzinom häufiger als andere Tumore. Der Dermatologe sollte über diesen Problemkreis Bescheid wissen, da er der erste vom Patienten wegen Vulva-Erkrankungen angesprochene Arzt sein kann. Die Behandlung sollte interdisziplinär in enger Kooperation mit Gynäkologen, Onkologen und Radiologen erfolgen.

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Conflict of interest

A. A. Chokoeva, G. Tchernev, E. Castelli, E. Orlando, S. B. Verma, M. Grebe and U. Wollina declare that there are no actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this article.

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Chokoeva, A., Tchernev, G., Castelli, E. et al. Vulvar cancer: a review for dermatologists. Wien Med Wochenschr 165, 164–177 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-015-0354-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-015-0354-9

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