title: Vulvar basal cell carcinoma in China: a 13-year review.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. philiplui@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Philip C W
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Yuen Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Patrick P L
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Tony K F
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Victor W L
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Gary M K
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Alex M C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Joaquim S L
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vong
authors.forename: Puay Hoon
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Trendell-Smith
mesh_terms: 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*