title: Vulvar melanoma: a report of 10 cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Despite its low incidence, vulvar melanoma carries a poor prognosis and shows a high tendency to metastasize because the diagnosis is often delayed. Although it is very well known that ultraviolet radiation is an important aetiological factor for cutaneous melanomas in adults, this cannot be considered true for vulvar melanoma. Chronic inflammatory disease, viral infections, irritant agents are the main factors suspected to induce mucosal melanoma. We report 10 cases of vulvar malignant melanoma observed in our institute from 1990 to 2005 and a review of the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology-Oncology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute-IFO, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: Vitaliano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silipo
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buccini
authors.forename: Giustino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marenda
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eibenschutz
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catricalà
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014844:Vulva / Q000473:pathology; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery