Recurrence of high-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia after various treatments

To assess the recurrence of high-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) after various treatments and to determine the factors affecting recurrence. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with a histologic diagnosis of high-grade VAIN who underwent treatment between 1986 and 2013. Recurrence rates, life table analysis of recurrence-free intervals following treatment, and factors affecting recurrence were analyzed. Of the 104 included patients, the mean age was 50.8± 13.4 years; 21.1% and 78.8% had VAIN2 and VAIN3, respectively. Overall, the recurrence rate of high-grade VAIN was 33.2 incidence density rate (IDR)% per year, and the median time to recurrence was 23.6 months. Observation, topical treatment, laser vaporization, electrosurgical ablation, electrosurgical excision, knife excision, and radiation were associated with recurrence rates of 65.4, 70.0, 38.0, 22.6, 43.1, 18.5, and 0 IDR% per year, respectively. The median times to recurrence for each treatment were 16.2, 18.8, 26.5, >35.8, 6.6, 39.8, and >57.3 months, respectively, but the differences in recurrence-free intervals among treatments were not statistically significant (P = 0.06). Patients in the treatment intervention group were less likely to experience recurrence than those in the untreated group (HR = 0.44, CI: 0.23-0.87, P = 0.018). A history of pelvic radiation was associated with a higher risk of recurrence (OR = 4.14, 95% CI: 1.06-16.16, P = 0.030). Although treatments for high-grade VAIN significantly decreased the risk of recurrence, approximately one-third of patients had recurrence after therapy. No treatment modality was superior to the others with respect to the recurrence rate. A history of radiation therapy was associated with higher recurrence.