[Dystrophy and precancerous changes in the vulva: symptoms, histology and therapy].

The article reports about the relatively rare diseases kraurosis vulvae (lichen sclerosus et atrophicus) and leucoplakia vulvae and the symptoms, aetiology, histology and therapy of these diseases. Both diseases are considered to be a "dystrophy" since 1976, by international convention. This publication is a report on 168 patients treated during the last 20 years (1964-1983). 34 patients suffered from diabetes mellitus (21%); 73.2% of the women were aged between the 61st and 90th year of life. 15 women already had an incipient vulvar carcinoma besides kraurosis (8.9%). Precancerous alterations, such as morbus Bowen (29 cases), morbus Paget of the vulva (6 cases), and erythroplasia of Queyrat are subsequently discussed.