[Malignant melanomas of the vulva]

In 13 patients, mean age 57 (31-78) years, with malignant melanoma of the vulva, 7 of the tumors occurred on the Labia majora, 4 on the Labia minora and 2 on the clitoris. 8 cases involved nodular malignant melanomas, 2 cases each involved a superficial-spreading form and an acrolentiginous form, and one case involved a non-classifiable malignant melanoma. According to histological criteria 10 of 13 tumors showed a high risk of metastasising. At the time of diagnosis one of the patients was in stage II and one in stage III of the disease. Of the 13 patients, 6 died, as a result of the tumor, 5 within the first 2 years. The mean survival time was 15 (6-28) months. In three other cases the disease has reached an advanced stage: stage Ib, II or III. Up to now only 4 patients have remained symptom free, the symptom free interval averaging 62 (33-84) months. This investigation confirms the special characteristics of malignant melanomas of the vulva, which are the predominance of tumors having a bad prognosis and the rapidly progressing course of the disease.