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Audit of 114 non‐neoplastic vulvar biopsies
Author(s) -
O'keefe Rodeney J.,
Scurry James P.,
Dennersten Graeme,
Sfameni Salvatore,
Brenan John
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb10842.x
Subject(s) - audit , medicine , vulvar cancer , dermatology , vulva , medical physics , business , accounting
Objective The purpose of this study was to show the benefits and limitations of vulvar biopsy in the setting of a multidisciplinary clinic specialising in non‐neoplastic diseases of the vagina and vulva. Design One hundred and fourteen vulvar biopsies were reviewed and classified according to the classification of the International Society for the Study of Vulvar Diseases. Results The histological diagnoses were lichen sclerosus 25 YO, nonlichen simplex chronicus 35%, erosive inflammatory dermatoses comprising psoriasis, spongiotic dermatitis, dermatophytosis and psoriasiform dermatitis 13%, erosive vulvitis and lichen planus 9%, nonspecific inflammation 6%, miscellaneous 9% and normal 4%. Conclusions Biopsies in cases of lichen sclerosus were useful for confirmation of clinical diagnosis and to exclude early invasive malignancy. In lichen simplex chronicus, biopsies helped exclude an underlying dermatosis requiring specific treatment. Psoriasis, spongiotic dermatitis, dermatophytosis and excoriated lichen simplex chronicus posed a common clinical differential diagnosis of the reddened vulva. The eroded vulva often proved a diagnostic problem clinically and histologically. The clinical syndrome of vestibulitis did not have a specific histological picture, and biopsies showed nonspecific inflammation, mild hyperplasia or were normal. No case of squamous cell hyperplasia was diagnosed and the place of this diagnosis in the ISSVD classification needs review.