Vulvar basal cell carcinoma in China: a 13-year review.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a 12-year retrospective review of vulvar basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in a Chinese population.


METHODS
Medical records and histopathologic reports were examined from 5 major Hospitals in Hong Kong to list all patients diagnosed with vulvar BCC. Clinical data and histologic materials were reviewed.


RESULTS
Sixteen vulvar BCCs were diagnosed. Most of them were pigmented. They were removed by simple excision or wide local excision. All the carcinomas were identified in the reticular dermis. The predominant histologic pattern was nodular, which may be mistaken as adenoid cystic carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The high proportion of pigmented vulvar BCCs suggested that biopsy should be performed for any pigmented lesion in a Chinese patient. The BCCs are superficial and tissue-preserving treatment approach is recommended. The tumor depth estimation is difficult and intraoperative frozen section consultation may be helpful. Formal histopathologic assessment should be used to reach an objective diagnosis.
Lui
Philip C W
PC
Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. philiplui@cuhk.edu.hk
Fan
Yuen Shan
YS
Lau
Patrick P L
PP
Chau
Tony K F
TK
Tang
Victor W L
VW
Tse
Gary M K
GM
Yu
Alex M C
AM
Vong
Joaquim S L
JS
Tan
Puay Hoon
PH
Trendell-Smith
N J
NJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001706:Biopsy; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology*