Outcomes of Stage I/II vulvar cancer patients after negative superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the patterns of recurrence associated with superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy (SupIL) and vulvectomy for patients with Stage I/II vulvar cancer.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review identified patients from 1990-2001 with Stage I/II vulvar cancer that underwent SupIL and vulvectomy. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method with Fisher Exact and Chi-square tests for comparisons between groups.


RESULTS
65 patients with Stage I/II vulvar cancer with a pathologically negative SupIL were identified (30 Stage I, 35 Stage II). Three patients recurred in the inguinal region, (4.6%) and 11 patients (16.9%) recurred on the vulva. Two of the 11 patients died of disease, six patients are alive without evidence of disease after additional therapy. Five-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 66% and 97%, respectively. Risk of recurrence was not associated with smoking status, stage, or margin status.


CONCLUSIONS
SupIL and vulvectomy for Stage I/II vulvar cancer have a low recurrence rate in the inguinal region when nodes are negative. The local recurrence rate (17%) is acceptable, and overall survival is good using this conservative approach.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, OHB 538, 619 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35249-7333, USA. tyler.kirby@obgyn.uab.edu
Tyler O
TO
Kirby
Rodney P
RP
Rocconi
T Michael
TM
Numnum
James E
JE
Kendrick
Jason
J
Wright
Wiley
W
Fowler
David G
DG
Mutch
Snehal M
SM
Bhoola
Warner K
WK
Huh
J Michael
JM
Straughn
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*