title: Perineural Invasion Is an Independent Pathologic Indicator of Recurrence in Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (vSCC) is a gynecologic malignancy diagnosed in nearly 4500 women in the United States each year. Current criteria for treatment planning provide inadequate assessment of aggressive vSCC cases, resulting in insufficient use of adjuvant treatments and high rates of vSCC recurrence. Perineural invasion (PNI) is a pathologic feature inconsistently included in the assessment of vSCC, because its relevance to clinical outcomes in these women is not well defined. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between PNI and relevant clinical parameters such as recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 103 cases of vSCC were evaluated for PNI using pathology report review and immunohistochemistry dual-chromogen staining for S100 and AE1/3. Medical records were reviewed for clinical and follow-up data. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with vSCC containing PNI had a greater risk for cancer recurrence than those whose tumors did not contain PNI (odds ratio=2.8, P=0.0290). There was no significant correlation between the presence of PNI and nodal involvement, stage, or lymphovascular invasion. Tumors with PNI had greater depth of invasion (DOI) (P=0.0047); however, DOI was not associated with recurrence (P=0.2220). When analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model, PNI was an independent predictor of recurrence in vSCC (adjusted odds ratio=2.613, P=0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PNI is an independent indicator of risk for recurrence in vSCC. The association of PNI with increased risk for recurrence, independent of DOI, nodal involvement, lymphovascular invasion, or stage, should encourage practicing pathologists to thoroughly search for and report the presence of PNI in vSCC.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Pathology †Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology ‡Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Holthoff
authors.forename: Susanne K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jeffus
authors.forename: Ashita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gehlot
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte / Q000032:analysis; D017920:Antiporters / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte; D017920:Antiporters; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009418:S100 Proteins; C489237:SLC4A3 protein, human