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Cerebral metastasis in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Background

Distant metastases from squamous cell cancer of the vulva (VSCC) are encountered rarely and are associated with a poor prognosis. Cerebral metastases have only been described anecdotally.

Case history

A 51-year old woman was diagnosed with hepatic metastases due to VSCC. Initial therapy comprised wide local excision of the primary tumor with inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy (LAE) followed by stereotactic radiation of the singular hepatic metastasis while adjuvant chemoradiation of the vulva and lymphatics was declined. 3 years later, she subsequently developed lung and cerebral metastases.

Conclusion

The course of metastatic disease in VSCC is poorly understood. Further knowledge of the metastatic patterns in vulvar cancer is required for guidance of future therapeutic interventions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Anna Jaeger, Maxine Biermann, Katharina Prieske, Donata Grimm, Astrid Grottke, Volkmar Mueller, Barbara Schmalfeldt & Linn Woelber

  2. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Johannes Salamon

  3. Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Cordula Petersen

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  1. Anna Jaeger
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Contributions

All authors have made substantial intellectual contributions to the article, provided critical feedback and given approval of the final manuscript to be published. LW and AJ took the lead in writing the manuscript and were responsible for the conception/design of the article as well as for data collection and interpretation. MB, DG and AG participated in the acquisition of the data and reviewing the literature. JS and CP helped to draft the manuscript by taking responsibility in the analysis and interpretation of the patients data. KP, VM and BS supervised the project by providing substantial feedback and revising it critically for intellectual content.

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Correspondence to Linn Woelber.

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Jaeger, A., Biermann, M., Prieske, K. et al. Cerebral metastasis in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: case report and review of the literature. Arch Gynecol Obstet 301, 327–332 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05403-6

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