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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Vulvar basal cell carcinoma in China: a 13-year review
Philip C W Lui1, Yuen Shan Fan, Patrick P L Lau
1Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. philiplui@cuhk.edu.hk
Objective:
We conducted a 12-year retrospective review of vulvar basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in a Chinese population.
Study Design:
Medical records and histopathologic reports were examined from 5 major Hospitals in Hong Kong to list all patients diagnosed with vulvar BCC. Clinical data and histologic materials were reviewed.
Results:
Sixteen vulvar BCCs were diagnosed. Most of them were pigmented. They were removed by simple excision or wide local excision. All the carcinomas were identified in the reticular dermis. The predominant histologic pattern was nodular, which may be mistaken as adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Conclusion:
The high proportion of pigmented vulvar BCCs suggested that biopsy should be performed for any pigmented lesion in a Chinese patient. The BCCs are superficial and tissue-preserving treatment approach is recommended. The tumor depth estimation is difficult and intraoperative frozen section consultation may be helpful. Formal histopathologic assessment should be used to reach an objective diagnosis.
