Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Management of lymph nodes in the treatment of vulvar cancer

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
  • Published:
International Journal of Clinical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The management of vulvar cancer has changed in the past two decades. Modern treatment of vulvar cancer must be individualized, and less radical surgery is now being performed if possible, in consideration of the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Even though the treatment now tends to be conservative, lymph nodes in all patients should be appropriately treated, with the only exception being microinvasive cancer with less than 1-mm stromal invasion. Here we review the up-to-date management of lymph nodes in patients with vulvar cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. FJ Taussig (1940) ArticleTitleCancer of the vulva: an analysis of 155 cases Am J Obstet Gynecol 40 764–779

    Google Scholar 

  2. S Way (1960) ArticleTitleCarcinoma of the vulva Am J Obstet Gynecol 79 692–697 Occurrence Handle13843204 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CC%2BB3MzpvVA%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. E Parry-Jones (1963) ArticleTitleLymphatics of the vulva J Obstet Gynaecol Br Emp 70 751–765 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CCuD38bkslQ%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. T Iversen M Aas (1983) ArticleTitleLymph drainage from the vulva Gynecol Oncol 16 179–189 Occurrence Handle6226578 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0090-8258(83)90092-6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuD3s%2Fht1Q%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. C Levenback TW Burke M Morris et al. (1995) ArticleTitlePotential applications of intraoperative lymphatic mapping in vulvar cancer Gynecol Oncol 59 216–220 Occurrence Handle7590476 Occurrence Handle10.1006/gyno.1995.0011 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymD28jnsVQ%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. NF Hacker RK Nieberg JS Berek et al. (1982) ArticleTitleSuperficially invasive vulvar cancer with nodal metastases Gynecol Oncol 15 65–77 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0090-8258(83)90118-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. RT Parker I Duncan J Rampone et al. (1975) ArticleTitleOperative management of early invasive epidermoid carcinoma of the vulva Am J Obstet Gynecol 123 349–355 Occurrence Handle1166863 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSmD3sjmsFE%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. J Chu HK Tamimi DC Figge (1981) ArticleTitleFemoral node metastases with negative superficial inguinal nodes in early vulvar cancer Am J Obstet Gynecol 140 337–341 Occurrence Handle7246637 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6B38bmsFw%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. E Podczaski M Sexton P Kaminski et al. (1990) ArticleTitleRecurrent carcinoma of the vulva after conservative treatment for “microinvasive” disease Gynecol Oncol 39 65–68 Occurrence Handle2227574 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0090-8258(90)90400-F Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6D3szitlA%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. ME Gordinier A Malpica TW Burke et al. (2003) ArticleTitleGroin recurrence in patients with vulvar cancer with negative nodes on superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy Gynecol Oncol 90 625–628 Occurrence Handle13678736 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0090-8258(03)00374-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. NF Hacker (2005) Vulvar cancer JS Berek NF Hacker (Eds) Practical gynecologic oncology, 4th edn Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Philadelphia 543–583

    Google Scholar 

  12. JS Hoffman NB Kumar GW Morley (1983) ArticleTitleMicroinvasive carcinoma of the vulva: search for a definition Obstet Gynecol 61 615–619 Occurrence Handle6835615 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiyC28fitVA%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. NF Hacker JS Berek LD Lagasse et al. (1984) ArticleTitleIndividualization of treatment for stage 1 squamous cell vulvar carcinoma Obstet Gynecol 63 155–162 Occurrence Handle6694808 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuC3MfitF0%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. JM Monaghan IG Hammond (1984) ArticleTitlePelvic node dissection in the treatment of vulvar carcinoma: is it necessary? BJOG 91 270–274 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1471-0528.1984.tb04766.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuC2MvlslI%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. D Lingard K Free RG Wright et al. (1992) ArticleTitleInvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: behavior and results in the light of changing management regimes Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 32 137–142 Occurrence Handle1520199 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2A1M3hvFY%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. F Stehman B Bundy G Thomas et al. (1992) ArticleTitleGroin dissection versus groin radiation in carcinoma of the vulva: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 24 389–396 Occurrence Handle1526880 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2H3cnlvFU%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. FB Stehman BN Bundy PM Droretsky et al. (1992) ArticleTitleEarly stage 1 carcinoma of the vulva treated with ipsilateral superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy and modified radical hemivulvectomy: a prospective study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group Obstet Gynecol 79 490–495 Occurrence Handle1553164 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2B3cvlsVM%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pecorelli S, Ngan HYS, Hacker NF (eds) (2006) Cancer of the vulva. In: Staging classification and clinical practice guidelines for gynecological cancers. A collaboration between FIGO and IGCS, third edn. pp 6–36

  19. NF Hacker RS Leuchter JS Berek et al. (1981) ArticleTitleRadical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy through separate groin incision Obstet Gynecol 58 574–579 Occurrence Handle7301232 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi2D2MfnvFQ%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. JA de hulla H Hollena S Lolkema et al. (2002) ArticleTitleVulvar carcinoma. The price of less radical surgery Cancer 95 2331–2338 Occurrence Handle10.1002/cncr.10969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. L Micheletti AC Levi F Bogliatto et al. (2002) ArticleTitleRationale and definition of the lateral extension of the inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulvar cancer derived from embryological and anatomical study J Surg Oncol 81 19–24 Occurrence Handle12210022 Occurrence Handle10.1002/jso.10133

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. SH Zhang AK Sood JI Sorosky et al. (2000) ArticleTitlePreservation of the saphenous vein during inguinal lymphadenectomy decreases morbidity in patients with carcinoma of the vulva Cancer 89 1520–1525 Occurrence Handle11013366 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1097-0142(20001001)89:7<1520::AID-CNCR15>3.0.CO;2-N Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvmslSktw%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. TS Dardarian HJ Gray MA Morgan et al. (2006) ArticleTitleSaphenous vein sparing during inguinal lymphadenectomy to reduce morbidity in patients with vulvar carcinoma Gynecol Oncol 101 140–142 Occurrence Handle16364412 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.ygyno.2005.10.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. PJ Paley PR Johnson LL Adcock et al. (1997) ArticleTitleThe effect of sartorius transposition on wound morbidity following inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy Gynecol Oncol 64 237–241 Occurrence Handle9038269 Occurrence Handle10.1006/gyno.1996.4557 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB3c7gvV0%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. L Micheletti G Borgno F Bogliatto et al. (1990) ArticleTitleDeep femoral lymphadenectomy with preservation of the fascia lata J Reprod Med 35 1130–1133 Occurrence Handle2283630 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6C3s3lsFU%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. R Rouzier B Haddad G Dubernard et al. (2003) ArticleTitleInguinofemoral dissection for carcinoma of the vulva: effect of modifications of extent and technique on morbidity and survival J Am Coll Surg 196 442–450 Occurrence Handle12648697 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1072-7515(02)01895-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. HD Homesley BN Bundy A Sedlis et al. (1986) ArticleTitleRadiation therapy versus pelvic node resection for carcinoma of the vulva with positive groin nodes Obstet Gynecol 63 733–739

    Google Scholar 

  28. M Origoni M Sideri S Garsia et al. (1992) ArticleTitlePrognostic value of pathological patterns of lymph node positivity in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva stage 3 and 4A FIGO Gynecol Oncol 45 313–316 Occurrence Handle1612509 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0090-8258(92)90311-6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2A3cjlt1Q%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. D Paladini P Cross A Lopes et al. (1994) ArticleTitlePrognostic significance of lymph node variables in squamous cell cancer of the vulva Cancer 74 2491–2496 Occurrence Handle7923005 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1097-0142(19941101)74:9<2491::AID-CNCR2820740916>3.0.CO;2-5 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqD3cjjvVw%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. J van der Velden ACM van Lindert FB Lammes et al. (1995) ArticleTitleExtracapsular growth of lymph node metastases in squamous cell cancer of the vulva; the impact on recurrence and survival Cancer 75 2885–2890 Occurrence Handle7773938 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1097-0142(19950615)75:12<2885::AID-CNCR2820751215>3.0.CO;2-3 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqB1M3is1Y%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. SE Hyde S Valmadre NF Hacker et al. (2007) ArticleTitleSquamous cell carcinoma of the vulva with bulky positive groin nodes – nodal debulking versus full groin dissection prior to radiation therapy Int J Gynecol Cancer 17 154–158 Occurrence Handle17291247 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1525-1438.2006.00769.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2s%2FpsVChsg%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. GS Montana GM Thomas DH Moore et al. (2000) ArticleTitlePreoperative chemo-radiation for carcinoma of the vulva with N2/N3 nodes: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 48 1007–1013 Occurrence Handle11072157 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0360-3016(00)00762-8 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FktlSisg%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. C Levenback TW Burke M Morris et al. (1995) ArticleTitlePotential applications of intraoperative lymphatic mapping in vulvar cancer Gynecol Oncol 59 216–220 Occurrence Handle7590476 Occurrence Handle10.1006/gyno.1995.0011 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymD28jnsVQ%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. JA De Hulla H Hollema DA Piers et al. (2000) ArticleTitleSentinel lymph node procedure is highly accurate in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva J Clin Oncol 18 2811–2816

    Google Scholar 

  35. APH Marker M Scheistroen D vanden Weyngaert CG Trope (2001) ArticleTitleSurgical management of stage 1 and 2 vulvar cancer: the role of sentinel node biopsy: review of literature Int J Gynecol Cancer 11 255–262 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1525-1438.2001.011004255.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. F Raspaglies A Ditto R Fontanelli et al. (2003) ArticleTitleFalse-negative sentinel node in patients with vulvar cancer: a case study Int J Cancer 13 361–363 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1525-1438.2003.13186.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. AC Ansink DM Sie-Go J van der Velden (1999) ArticleTitleIdentification of sentinel lymph nodes in vulvar carcinoma patients with the aid of a patent blue dye injection Cancer 86 652–656 Occurrence Handle10440693 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19990815)86:4<652::AID-CNCR14>3.0.CO;2-R Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzmvFOmtA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. T Iverson V Abeler J Aalders (1981) ArticleTitleIndividualized treatment of stage 1 carcinoma of the vulva Obstet Gynecol 57 85–90

    Google Scholar 

  39. NF Hacker JS Berek LD Lagasse et al. (1993) ArticleTitleConservative management of early vulva cancer Cancer 71 1673–1677 Occurrence Handle8431905 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyC287jtVI%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. NF Hacker JS Berek LD Lagasse et al. (1983) ArticleTitleManagement of regional lymph nodes and their prognostic influence in vulvar cancer Obstet Gynecol 61 408–412 Occurrence Handle6828268 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiyC2c3lt1Y%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecology Service, National Kyushu Cancer Center, 3-1-1 Notame, Minami-ku, Fukuoka, 811-1395, Japan

    Toshiaki Saito & Keiji Kato

Authors
  1. Toshiaki Saito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Keiji Kato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Toshiaki Saito.

About this article

Cite this article

Saito, T., Kato, K. Management of lymph nodes in the treatment of vulvar cancer. Int J Clin Oncol 12, 187–191 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-007-0659-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-007-0659-9

Key words

Search

Navigation