Comparison of clinical versus surgical staging systems in vulvar cancer

To compare prognostic information from the new surgical staging system of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) with the old clinical staging system for vulvar cancer.

One hundred six women with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva who underwent radical vulvectomies and inguinal lymph node dissections at the University of Oklahoma from 1971-1990 were considered eligible for this study. A retrospective chart review was conducted to assign surgical stage. The clinical and pathologic factors analyzed for survival included the clinical and surgical stage of disease, nodal status, tumor size, and lesion location.

Overall 5-year survival was 64%. Forty-three patients had inguinal and femoral node metastasis with a 5-year survival of 38%, versus 87% for patients without nodal metastasis (P < .00001). An increased number of positive groin lymph nodes was associated with a poorer prognosis. Thirty-one patients had tumors of 2 cm or less in maximum diameter with no recurrences, versus 52% 5-year survival in the remaining patients (P < .001). Perineal involvement was identified in 24 patients, but did not significantly influence survival.

Overall, the new classification system revised by FIGO for vulvar cancer staging places patients into more accurate risk categories.