title: A clitoral verrucous carcinoma in an area of lichen planus has aggressive features.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Verrucous carcinoma of the vulva is extremely rare. It is a slow growing, low malignant variant of a squamous cell carcinoma with a cauliflower appearance. Women with lichen planus have an increased risk of developing vulval cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 79-year-old woman consulted for vulval itching. On clinical examination, a 3-cm large verrucous clitoral cancer in an area of lichen planus was seen. Based on her last clinical examination, the growth was estimated to be 1 cm2per month with an invasion depth after 6 months of 5 mm. A tumor developing in an area of lichen planus appears to have more aggressive features. This is the first time that the growth of a verrucous carcinoma has been documented in an area of lichen planus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians and patients should be aware of the aggressive behavior of cancers developing in areas of lichen planus and adjust their surgical management together with the follow-up strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Gynecological Oncology Unit, Antwerp University Hospital - University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem, 2650, Belgium. Wiebren.Tjalma@uza.be.
authors.forename: Wiebren A A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Tjalma
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Gynecological Oncology Unit, Antwerp University Hospital - University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem, 2650, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siozopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Gynecological Oncology Unit, Antwerp University Hospital - University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem, 2650, Belgium.
authors.forename: Manon T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Huizing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Carcinoma; Clitoris; Lichen planus; Treatment; Verrucous; Vulval