[Classification and documentation of vulvar changes: organization of a data bank by personal computer]

We developed a simple menu driven database on a personal computer for classification and documentation of vulvar lesions (IBM-PC, dBaseII). Vulvar lesions were classified according to morphological appearance: red, white, dark, ulcer, small tumor (less than 1 cm), large tumor. The data for each category were entered in multiple choice form or as free text and stored in a separate database file. Overlap between categories was observed in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, invasive carcinoma and between large and small tumors. For each category an automated table of the frequencies of the different diagnoses is provided, individual patients and variables can easily be accessed through the database query language. We used the database system in the gynecological outpatient clinic of our department during 6 months and were able to document 117 patients with vulvar lesions. In our experience, the database system permits complete documentation according to clinical criteria of all vulvar lesions seen in gynecological practice.