Radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin lymphadenectomy utilizing separate groin incisions: report of a case with recurrence in the intervening skin bridge.
Postoperative wound breakdown is very common following the en bloc dissection of the vulva and inguinal/femoral lymph nodes for carcinoma of the vulva. To decrease the incidence of wound morbidity, techniques have been described for performing the inguinal/femoral lymphadenectomy through separate groin incisions. This approach leaves a bridge of tissue between the vulvar excision and the lymph node dissection. A case of stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva that was treated with a radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal/femoral lymphadenectomy utilizing separate groin incisions is presented. This patient later developed a recurrence in the tissue bridge between the vulvar and groin excisions. The mechanism for this recurrence is discussed.
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*