title: Cancer of the vulva in Burkina Faso: a hospital-based case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vulvar cancer is a rare gynaecological cancer. In Burkina Faso, the diagnosis of vulvar cancers is delayed and the prognosis is poor. However, no specific study on vulvar cancers has been conducted at the moment. This work aimed to study the characteristics of these cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective study on histologically confirmed primary cancers of the vulva diagnosed between 1st January 2013 and 30th June 2015. The demographic and clinical aspects were studied at the Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou (CHU-YO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noticed 21 cases of vulvar cancers within 30 months, ranking it as the 4th most common gynaecological cancer. The average age of the patients was 55 years (standard deviation +/- 6.3) and the median age was 57 years. Scars resulting from female circumcision, menopause (n = 20) and HIV infection were noticed in 19 cases and 6 cases respectively. The average time from first symptoms to first consultation was 29 months. Pain and ulceration were the main reasons for consultation. The clinical picture was chiefly an ulcero-granulating tumour. There was squamous cell carcinoma in 20 cases and basal carcinoma in 1 case. Fifteen patients were at stage III or IV, where of three patients had metastatic disease. We noticed vitiligo in 9 vulvar cancer cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cancer of the vulva is rare. Women are of menopausal age, are mostly circumcised and HIV-infection is common. A majority of patients sought consultation at advanced stage of disease, and diagnosis was belatedly made. Pain and ulceration were the main reasons for consultation. The sensitization of the population, education for self- examination would allow earlier diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Nayi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zongo
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology and Venerology, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Korsaga-Somé
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Amandine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banata Gang-Ny
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ouangré
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zida
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathologic Anatomy, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Aimé Sosthène
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ouédraogo
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Aboubacar Hirrhum
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Bambara
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Augustin Tozoula
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Bambara
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Si Simon
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Traore
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology and Venerology, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niamba
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology and Venerology, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.affiliation: Oncology Institute Joliot Curie of Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Ahmadou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dem
keywords: Cancer; Demographics aspects; Diagnostic stages; Vulva