[Surgical treatment of vulvar cancer and plastic reconstruction of vulvar defects]

In recent years sufficient scientific and clinical data have become available to establish an individualized treatment plan for each patient suffering from vulvar carcinoma. Organ-preserving operations are strictly confined to "early cases" as described by a careful histopathology of the primary lesion. The high perioperative morbidity and the bad cosmetic results of extended radical vulvectomy are definitely improved by additional plastic reconstructive procedures. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy probably results in a better survival rate in lymph node positive patients.