Carcinoma of the vulva. Significance of surgical margin involvement in assessing prognosis
Lewandowski, G.; O'Toole, R.V.; Delgado, G.; Boutselis, J.G.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 34(11): 884-886
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 2585389 Document Number: 345480
Repeat pathologic analysis was completed in order to independently assign surgical margin status in a group of 61 patients from the Ohio State University (OHIO, USA) gynecologic oncology tumor registry. Patients were entered into the study group after having undergone simple or radical vulvectomy for squamous carcinoma of the vulva. A statement regarding margin status was made following a detailed pathologic review, and parameters-including stage, grade and lymph node involvement-were assigned without regard to outcome. There was no statistically significant difference in the survival or recurrence rate with involved margins. Mean lesion size was significantly larger with involved margins (P < .05). The survival and recurrence data support a primary surgical attempt at complete excision regardless of the microscopic margin status.