Clinical characteristics of vulvar basal cell carcinoma: a multi-center, retrospective study in China

This study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics of basal cell carcinoma in a Chinese population over a 20-year period and identify key factors associated with vulvar basal cell carcinoma across different International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages.

This retrospective study included all adult patients with vulvar basal cell carcinoma treated at multiple Chinese grade A tertiary hospitals from 2003 to 2023. Patient demographic characteristics, symptoms, tumor characteristics, and treatment information were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify potential risk factors.

A total of 100 patients with a vulvar basal cell carcinoma diagnosis were identified. Among the 100 patients, 14 patients were excluded due to unknown FIGO staging and 86 patients (45 [52.3%] FIGO IA group, 41 [47.7%] FIGO non-IA group; median age 65 years; interquartile range; 55-70 years) were included into the final analysis. The majority of patients were post-menopausal (n = 67; 77.9%). All patients were treated surgically by wide local excision (n = 65, 75.8%) or radical vulvectomy (n = 21, 24.4%). The majority were located on the labia majora (n = 56, 80%). In the univariate analysis, greater parity, defined as each additional live birth, was independently associated with an increased likelihood of vulvar basal cell carcinoma of FIGO stage >IA (odds ratio [OR] 1.524, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.108 to 2.097, p = .010). After adjustment for confounding variables, greater parity remained a significant predictor of more advanced disease (non-IA FIGO stage) in vulvar basal cell carcinoma (adjusted OR 2.320, 95% CI 1.024 to 5.258, p = .044).

This study demonstrated a significant association between greater parity and more advanced (FIGO stage >IA) vulvar basal cell carcinoma.