[Electroresection and electrocoagulation as therapy for vulvar neoplasms]

A survey of the results attained by the most prominent authors of the individual therapy methods is given. After electro-resection and -coagulation of the vulvar tumor followed by roentgen or telecobalt irradiation, patients are almost without pain. The primary mortality in 332 patients was 1,5% (= 5 cases) because lymphonodectomy was performed in only 66 cases (20%). The period of hospitalization lasts about four weeks and cosmetic healing is excellent. This therapy method can also be recommended for largely extended tumors as lack of local symptoms can be achieved up to 97%. Of the 332 patients treated at our hospital, almost equal numbers of patients were seen with carcinoma stage I and II and stage III and IV. In stage I and II (negative lymph nodes) 74,5% and in stage III and IV (positive lymph nodes) 38,4% were cured. 80% were aged between 61 and 90 years. In spite of this negative selection of patients which was also combined with the intercurrent mortality rate of 13% (= 43 cases), 193 of the 332 patients or 58,1% survived five years or longer. In the last five years the survival rate was even 62,2%. A survey of the results obtained by electrocoagulation in the last 30 years is given. Especially the enormous increase of high risks as diabetes (42,2%) and the great number of over-aged patients (83,3%) are emphasized.