Advanced cancer of the vulva treated by vulvectomy and proctectomy. Case report

In 5 selected patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva invading the anus, a vulvectomy in combination with proctectomy and in three cases bilateral groin dissection en bloc, was performed. All five patients had microscopically well differentiated tumors and no one showed evidence of distant metastases. All five patients are now alive and well with a mean observation time of 8 years. It is concluded that in selected patients, extensive surgery for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva can be very rewarding.