Vulvar metastasis as the initial presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma constitutes 40% of malignant lymphomas. Involvement of the vulva, either primarily or secondarily, appears to be very rare.


METHODS
An 87-year-old woman with a 2-cm, left vulvar mass was initially treated with antibiotics due to a suspicion of Bartholin's gland abscess. The mass grew rapidly, from 2 to 10 cm, within 3 months. Biopsy showed a diffuse, large, B-cell lymphoma. After 1 cycle (5 days) of treatment with 200 mg endoxan and 60 mg prednisolone, the mass significantly decreased in size. The decrease in size occurred within 2 days after the beginning of treatment and resolved completely 7 days later.


CONCLUSIONS
If a vulvar mass is found in an elderly woman, the physician should consider the possibility of malignancy, especially metastasis.
Cheng
Ming-Huei
MH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chao
Hsiang-Tai
HT
Wang
Peng-Hui
PH
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001472:Bartholin's Glands / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone