title: Vulvar melanoma: review of diagnosis, staging, and therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To update, assimilate, and bridge the contemporary literature on vulvar and cutaneous melanoma regarding diagnosis, staging, and therapy to provide a useful clinical reference for managing and counseling for affected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized search for reports in the literature up to June 2003 was carried out using PubMed and MEDLINE databases. Multidisciplinary involvement was used in evaluating the available data and formulating conclusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 300 reports were reviewed. Diagnosis, staging, and therapy aspects of vulvar melanoma are summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vulvar melanoma represents a subtype of cutaneous melanoma, with similar prognostic and staging factors. The most recent American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for cutaneous melanoma is applicable to vulvar melanoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is reliable for staging the regional lymph node basin for vulvar melanoma. Standardized documentation of clinical and histopathologic parameters is needed to standardize grouping of cases for future comparison studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0314, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wechter
authors.forename: R Kevin
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Hope K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Haefner
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Johnson