title: The value of histology in predicting the effectiveness of vulvar vestibulectomy in provoked vestibulodynia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether histology can predict response to vestibulectomy in the management of provoked vestibulodynia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inflammatory cell, mast cell, and nerve fiber counts were determined in prospectively collected vulvar vestibulectomy specimens from 30 women treated surgically for provoked vestibulodynia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three subjects (77%) had a complete early response to surgery. At 3 years of follow-up, this had increased to 28 (93%), with a 29th showing some improvement. No subject had gotten worse after surgery or in the 3 years of follow-up. When comparing patients with an early complete response with those patients who still had symptoms, no difference in lymphocyte counts (27.6 vs. 37.8 per mm), mast cell counts (110.4 vs. 97.8 per mm), or stromal nerve fiber counts (16.4 vs. 16.4 per mm) was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vestibulectomy is a very effective treatment option in women with provoked vestibulodynia who have had failed conservative treatment. Histology is unable to predict which patients will respond to surgery.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales; 2Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and 3Anatomical Pathology, Hunter Area Pathology Service, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brokenshire
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scurry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult