Radical vulvectomy for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

During a 12 year period, 102 patients with invasive epidermoid carcinoma of the vulva were treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic. The over-all corrected three year survival rate was 65.5 per cent, or 67 of 102 patients. Those treated by radical vulvectomy and bilateral dissection of groin nodes had a three year survival rate of 76.9 per cent, or 40 of 52 patients, while those treated by radiotherapy had a survival rate of 10 per cent, or two of 20 patients. Those with Stage I disease lesions, less than 1 centimeter in diameter, had an excellent survival rate whether they were treated by vulvectomy only or by radical vulvectomy with groin node dissection. Our experience in this selected group of patients would indicate that a degree of individualization in the treatment of early invasive lesions of the vulva can give most satisfactory results.