Pelvic exenteration for the treatment of vulvar cancer

Advanced vulvar cancer can be treated by pelvic exenteration.

A clinical review of patients treated by exenteration surgery for vulvar cancer was performed.

From 1950 through 1989, 19 patients underwent pelvic exenteration for advanced or recurrent squamous cell cancer of the vulva. The mean age was 53 years (median, 50 years; range, 40-74 years). The cumulative 5-year survival was 60%. Fourteen patients had posterior exenteration; 2 had anterior exenteration; and 3 had total exenteration. The survival was significantly influenced by lymph node status. When lymph nodes were not involved, 10 of 14 patients survived, whereas all 5 patients with lymph node involvement died of disease (P = 0.002). When exenteration was performed as primary therapy, 7 of 11 patients survived, whereas 3 of 8 survived when exenteration was performed for recurrent disease (P = 0.4). The extent of vulvar involvement did not influence survival (P = 0.99). There was no mortality, but ten patients had complications, including vesicovaginal fistula (three); stomal hernia (two); abscess (one); stress urinary incontinence (one); deep venous thrombosis (one); conduit leak (one); enterocutaneous fistula (one); and small intestinal obstruction (one).

Acceptable survival for advanced or recurrent vulvar cancer can be achieved with pelvic exenteration, but the presence of metastatic disease to lymph nodes markedly decreases survival.