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Malignant melanoma of the vulva: Report of 89 patients
Author(s) -
Räber Gert,
Mempel Volker,
Jackisch Christian,
Hundeiker Max,
Heinecke Achim,
Kürzl Rainer,
Glaubitz Michael,
Rompel Rainer,
Schneider Hermann P. G.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19961201)78:11<2353::aid-cncr13>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - medicine , vulva , melanoma , stage (stratigraphy) , breslow thickness , survival rate , lymph node , dermatology , cancer , disease , female circumcision , surgery , gynecology , sentinel lymph node , paleontology , cancer research , breast cancer , biology
BACKGROUND Rates of melanoma have increased worldwide over the last few decades. Currently, this rate of increase is greater for melanoma than for any other cancer in the U.S. Approximately 3% of all melanomas diagnosed in women are located within the genital tract, predominantly affecting the vulva. Overall, melanomas of the vulva account for 2–10% of all malignancies of the female external genitalia. Due to the rarity of this disease, treatment recommendations do not exist. METHODS This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the significance of clinical and pathologic features for survival among 89 patients examined for malignant melanoma at 5 hospitals in Germany from 1978 to 1991. A complete workup based on age, initial symptoms, tumor localization, presence of ulceration, postoperative stage, surgical procedure, and survival, was performed. RESULTS The overall 5‐year survival rate of 36.7% confirms the poor prognosis of this disease. Definitive treatment concepts require a standardized treatment of patients with malignant melanoma of the vulva; however, because of the rarity of vulvar melanomas, prospective studies are difficult to perform. CONCLUSIONS Parameters such as age, Breslow's thickness of invasion, Clark's level of invasion, lymph node involvement, anatomic site, and postoperative stage are prognostic factors for survival. Surgery should be performed in accordance with the accepted standards for cutaneous melanoma. Cancer 1996;78:2353‐8.