[Urinary retention caused by vulvar carcinoma].

Epidermoid carcinoma is the most frequent neoplasia of the vulva. It usually appears in aged post-menopausal women (51-70 years). The signs and symptoms are unremarkable: vulvar bulk or protuberance, pruritus, painful ulcer, flow, vulvar irritation, dysuria or haemorrhage, all of which motivate that this condition may be ignored, overlooked, or be the cause of self-treatment. At other times a dangerous shyness causes considerable delays by postponing the visit to the specialist. Many patients refuse to go to see a physician. The existence of urinary signs and symptoms in a patient with vulvar neoplasia are indicative of urethral invasion and the advanced stage of the condition. A case is presented here of an advanced vulva carcinoma in an 82 year-old woman who come with urinary retention by urethral infiltration and perineal destruction. We review the most relevant aspects of vulvar carcinomas associated with obstructive uropathy.