Techniques for management of vulvar cancer by irradiation alone

Vulvar cancer has traditionally been managed surgically, rather than by means of irradiation, because of the poor tolerance of the vulvar skin and mucous membranes to X-ray treatment. The use of moderate dose (4,000 rad) external-beam radiotherapy (EXRT) combined with two interstitial 192iridium endocurietherapy (ECT) applications of 2,500 rad to 3,000 rad allows delivery of an adequate tumoricidal dose (9,000 rad to 10,000 rad total dose) without producing radiation vulvitis. Irradiation is an effective alternate means of treatment in elderly patients who are medically unfit for radical vulvectomy and lymphadenectomy. It also provides an alternative to surgery for those patients who desire preservation of the genitourinary anatomy.