[Vulvar metastatic disease: experience at the National Institute of Cancer of Mexico].

BACKGROUND

Malignant vulvar tumors account for less than 1% of the malignant lesions in women and between 3 to 5% of the malignant tumors from female genital tract. The most common malignant neoplasia is squamous cell carcinoma followed by melanoma and in last place sarcomas and metastasis.

OBJECTIVE

To report the incidence and experience at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia of Mexico.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Vulvar metastasis were recorded from the files of pathology department of the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia diagnosed from 1984 to 2002. Clinical and histological characteristics from these cases were evaluated as well as clinical behavior.

RESULTS

Eight cases of vulvar metastasis were found from a total of 436 malignant vulvar neoplasias (1.8%). Primary tumor in six cases was located in genital area; in the other two the primary tumor was located in breast and bladder. Labium majus was the most frequent site of metastasis. All the patients died with disease progression in a period of one month to one year after the diagnosis of vulvar metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Vulvar metastasis is a rare phenomenon; these lesions are in relation to advanced clinical stage and a poor prognosis.