How important is the pathological margin distance in vulvar cancer?

The ideal pathological margin in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is still debated. Our aim was to analyze the value of tumor-free pathological margin distance with regard to local recurrence in VSCC.

We analyzed a series of 205 patients who were treated for VSCC from January 1980 to November 2007. Patients were categorized into 3 groups, based on pathological free margin (PFM): <3 mm (n = 18); ≥3 and <8 mm (n = 61); and ≥8 mm (n = 126).

The median age was 69 years. The median PFM was 10 mm (range: 1-65). Of 168 patients who underwent lymphadenectomy, 64 (38.1%) developed LN metastasis. After a median follow-up of 36.2 months, 78 (38%) cases recurred-47 (60.2%) experienced a local recurrence (LR). LR occurred in 16.7% of patients with a PFM of <3 mm, 24.6% with a PFM ≥3 and <8 mm, and 22.2% of those with a PFM ≥8 mm (p = 0.77). PFM did not correlate with LR when analyzed continuously (p = 0.98). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) for LR was 79.6%. Margin distance did not negatively impact DFS (p = 0.94); the presence of perineural invasion was the only variable that negatively influenced DFS (p = 0.009).

Although our results suggest no correlation between LR and pathological margin distance, the tumor-free resection margin remains significant with regard to locoregional control in vulvar cancer. A more conservative surgical approach may be considered in certain situations, such as margins near the clitoris, urethra, and anus.