[-Inguinal irradiation versus no lymph node therapy in small vulvar carcinoma with clinically negative lymph nodes (T1, NO-1)-].

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this retrospective study was to determine if groin radiation was superior to no therapy in patients with small vulvar cancer with not palpable or not suspicious inguinal lymph nodes (T1, N0-N1).

METHODS

From 1974 to 1990, 135 patients with invasive T1, NO-1 vulvar cancer underwent radical vulvectomy with hot knife, groin nodes were left in situ. In 65 patients vulvectomy was followed by inguinofemoral irradiation: 70 patients had none. There were more cases with clitoris carcinoma (p < 0.04) in the group with groin irradiation but no other significant difference in prognostic factors was found.

RESULTS

The actuarial 5-year survival was 93.7% with groin irradiation versus 92.4% without lymph node therapy. Inguinal relapses occurred in only 4.6% of cases with groin irradiation versus 10% without lymph node treatment (n.s.).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation therapy to the groin seems to reduce groin relapses in early vulvar cancer.