[Melanoma of the vulva. Report of 12 cases]

The present retrospective study includes 12 patients with melanoma of the vulva who underwent vulvectomy between 1977 and 1987. Six patients were less than 55 and 6 other patients more than 69 years old. Three women of the younger age group survived (31, 44 and 116 months, respectively), whereas three of them died of the tumour. In the patient group of over 69 years of age 4 patients died of the tumour, one patient did not appear for follow-up and one further patient died in the meantime. Nine patients suffered from deeply infiltrating tumours (Clark levels IV and V), 2 patients had a Clark level II tumour, and in one case the Clark level was unknown. Depth of infiltration correlated with the prognosis of disease, i.e. only one patient with deep tumour infiltration, but both patients with Clark level II tumours survived. Therefore, the importance of early diagnosis of melanoma of the vulva should be emphasized, and accurate inspection of the vulva should be indispensable in the course of routine gynaecological examination also in younger women.