Vol 71, No 5 (2021)
Research paper (original)
Published online: 2021-08-20
Resection margins do not influence survival in vulvar cancer: treatment results in patients with a long-term follow-up
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2021;71(5):290-295.
Abstract
Introduction. The main purpose of the study was to assess margin resection as a prognostic factor of vulvar cancer in patients with a long term follow-up.
Materials and methods. The study included 84 vulvar cancer patients who underwent radical treatment: surgery (n = 84), radiotherapy (n = 16), chemoradiotherapy (n = 5). Clinicopathological factors regarding survival and recurrence were analyzed. The median follow-up was 74 months.
Results. Resection margins were not related to progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.93) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.84). On the multivariate analysis, a maximum tumor size > 25 mm (p = 0.026) and inguinal lymph node involvement (p = 0.028) were factors increasing the risk of death. The risk of recurrence was related to tumor dimension > 25 mm (p = 0.011), but not to inguinal node metastasis (p = 0.086).
Discussion. Inadequate surgical margin would be salvaged by adjuvant treatment.
Conclusions. A maximum tumor dimension > 25 mm and metastases in the inguinal lymph nodes are independent prognostic factors for the survival of patients with vulvar cancer.
Keywords: vulvacancerprognosisrecurrence
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