In the absence of (early) invasive carcinoma, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia associated with lichen sclerosus is mainly of undifferentiated type: new insights in histology and aetiology.
BACKGROUND
Differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is presumed to be the precursor of invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva. It is commonly assumed that differentiated VIN is related to lichen sclerosus (LS). However, evidence for this is limited to a small number of studies describing epithelial alterations adjacent to vulvar SCC.


OBJECTIVE
To study the histology and human papillomavirus (HPV) status in patients with a history of both LS and VIN without coexistent SCC.


METHODS
Original biopsy specimens and surgical specimens of patients retrieved from the pathology files were revised for the presence of LS, VIN and (early) invasive SCC, specifically focused on the two different types of VIN: differentiated and undifferentiated. Thereafter, VIN lesions were tested for the presence of HPV DNA.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven patients fulfilled the criteria for LS and VIN without SCC. In all 27 patients, LS was found to be related to undifferentiated VIN. Grading yielded the following results: VIN 1 (n=10), VIN 2 (n=11) and VIN 3 (n=6). Additionally, VIN lesions from 26 patients could be tested for the presence of HPV DNA. HPV DNA, predominantly type 16, was present in 8 (31%) of them. Seven of these eight patients had VIN 2 or 3. During follow-up, three patients progressed to (early) invasive carcinoma. In two of these patients, differentiated VIN was observed overlying early invasive SCC.


CONCLUSIONS
VIN related to LS without coexisting SCC is likely to be undifferentiated, in contrast to what was previously thought. HPV DNA was demonstrated in 31% of the lesions, and was strongly related to high-grade VIN.
van Seters
M
M
Department of Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
ten Kate
F J W
FJ
van Beurden
M
M
Verheijen
R H M
RH
Meijer
C J L M
CJ
Burger
M P M
MP
Helmerhorst
T J M
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000473:pathology*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral