[Surgical therapy and prognosis of vulvar carcinoma]

From 1954 to 1985 211 woman with carcinoma of the vulva were treated at the medical college Dresden. 66 patients were found at the FIGO stage I, 69 at stage II, 50 at stage III, 18 at stage IV; 8 could not be classified. In the total group of woman the cumulative survival rate due to the different stages were: 72% at stage I, 56% at stage II, 28% at stage III and 13% at stage IV. The 5-year survival rates were different in women undergoing a total vulva operation (76%) from vulvectomized women (60%) and partial vulvectomized woman (48%). So the total vulva operation had a great effect on outcome. In female patients which underwent palliative surgical treatment the survival rate could be increased by means of the postoperative radiation therapy. It is a matter of outstanding importance to the vulva carcinoma prognosis to operate radically and as soon as possible.