Research Article
Cancer of the Vulva: Finding Ways to Improve the Effectiveness and Quality of Treatment Results
Cherenkov VG*
Corresponding Author: Cherenkov VG, Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary, Novgorod University Yaroslav The Wise, Veliky Novgorod, Russia
Received: July 12, 2019; Revised: January 06, 2020; Accepted: August 30, 2019
Citation: Cherenkov VG. (2020) Cancer of the Vulva: Finding Ways to Improve the Effectiveness and Quality of Treatment Results. J Cancer Sci Treatment, 2(1): 79-83.
Copyrights: ©2020 Cherenkov VG. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Cancer of the external genitals is up to 8% in the overall structure of the incidence of malignant neoplasms of female genital organs. Under our observation there were 92 patients with vulvar dystrophy and suspected cancer. The effectiveness of treatment of vulvar dystrophy (VIN I-II degree) by the method of photodynamic therapy (PDT) 45.8 ± 4.7%. However, dysplasia II-III degree, sclerotic changes with the formation of pronounced horn scales prevents the full PDT and recurrence of the disease. Reconstructive plastic surgery was performed using cryoapplication and «Harmonic» apparatus to reduce blood loss and duration of lymphorrhoea in the postoperative period. The use of new reconstructive plastic surgery, including with the use of abdominal skin and fascial flap combined with vascularized lower segments of the rectus muscles), have helped to reduce complications, improve cosmetic effect (patent for invention № 2580665 from 11.11.14).

 

Keywords: Cryoapplication, The apparatus “harmonics”, Plastic surgery, Abdominal skin, Rectus muscles, Vulvular cancer

INTRODUCTION

In the modern system of pathogenesis, special attention is paid to papillomavirus infection (HPV) [1-3]. The latter play a leading role in the Genesis of not only cervical cancer, but also vulva cancer and other localizations, which allows a new look at this problem [4-6]. Currently, vulva cancer is increasingly diagnosed in reproductive age, which to some extent is associated with an increase in the frequency of HPV infection and the incidence of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) among young women.

Most often, one woman can observe various pathological conditions that must be taken into account and classified.

Able to treat precancerous processes and prevent the development of cancer is difficult, but the real problem of modern gynecology [7,8]. Some authors the solution to this problem is associated with the development of methods for cryosurgery, PDT and FDD [6]. Others believe that the organ-saving treatment of patients with neurodystrophic process, with a vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and early cancer leads to relapse and therefore in need of radical treatment [2,3].

However, to date not solved the methodological aspects of detection and treatment of vulvar dysplasias and early cancers of the vulva. In works on RV [3,7] indicate the importance of magnifying diagnosis and morphological methods. At the same time, stated that “the information content of the smears low” (up to 57% for summary data). “Often smears find only Horny scales and elements of inflammation, introducing the doctor astray.”

OBJECTIVE

Comprehensive assessment and improvement of methods of diagnostics and treatment of vulvar dysplasias and early cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

With vulvar dysplasia, sclerotic deprive and suspected cancer in regional oncologic dispensary from 2012 directed 92 of the patient.

The examination we carried out with the use of colposcope (15 fold increase), allowing a high degree of confidence to select sites for target biopsy. Given the multicentric growth, as a rule, morphological study of vulvar dystrophies started with obtaining cytological material (smears and scrapings) from the suspicious areas (Figure 1)

In the literature available to us we have not found a description of the method of collection of material for cytological examination vulvar dysplasias as it is used for cytological screening of cervical cancer. Given that development of foci of RV occurs on the background of sclerotic zoster and increased keratinization of epithelial tissue, we used the technique of scraping with a scalpel consisting of two steps: 1) removing (scraping) keratinized scales of the epithelium of the 4-5 most suspicious areas; 2) scarification and receiving cells from deeper layers within the basal layer before the “dewdrops” of blood.

The results of cytological studies, we used incisional biopsy with a scalpel under local infiltration anesthesia (0.5% p-p of novocaine or lidocaine). And only when expressed scopinich and saucer-like forms of cancer a biopsy was performed by conchotomy. As can be seen from Table 1, the cytological examination in 79 of the 92 patients with aimed vulvar dysplasia allowed at 76.0 ± 3.4% of cases to establish a correct diagnosis, including 13 cases against this background, the cancer (stage 0-1), which is significantly higher than according to the literature - 57% [1,2].

And only 20, 6 ± 1.5% were not informative. Have a 3.2 ± 0.6% conclusion of catalogul was wrong. The sensitivity of cytology in detecting different types of pathology NGOs amounted to 81.3 ± 3.9 and ranged from 76% in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) to 97% at the pre-invasive forms of cancer.

PDT we performed in 24 patients with diffuse vulvar dysplasia (VIN II-III) and PB to prepare the surrounding tissues, including 2 patients at relapse RV. As shown in Figure 2, dysplasia and sclerotic zoster transferred to the skin of the thigh, which cannot be used for forming skin-fascial flap without PDT. In their study, we used a second generation sensitizer – fotoditazin. Session of PDT was performed using 1.5-2 h after intravenous drip infusion of the drug (LLC “Veta-Grand”), on average, 1.0 mg/kg of body weight in 100 ml of 0.9% solution of sodium chloride in terms of polystannanes of the room. Laser irradiation with a semiconductor device “Atcus-2” at the energy density of 80-250 j/cm2 of laser power output 1 W and the exposure time from 10 to 30 min depending on the area affected areas by scanning. Method involves generation of atomic (singlet) oxygen, leading to death of the atypical cells. After 1.5-3 months came healing and tissue repair without deformities in 9 women with barely visible scarring. Patients followed from 1 year to 3 years. Five women with repeated photodynamic therapy, however, complete cure has managed to achieve only two. Thus, the PDT allowed curing vulvar dysplasia, only 11 of the 24 patients with I-II degree (45.8 ± 4.7%). The renewal of the skin itch and residual lesions leukoplakia was observed in 13 women, due to the insufficient exposure of laser exposure on each zone, especially when there are significant Horny scales. Besides, PDT by moving the laser beam by hand does not allow avoiding subjectivity and thus relapse. In such situations, in our opinion, requires an individual approach and combined treatment. As noted by the women themselves after PDT was only a temporary subjective effect, after which the itching resumed and they resorted to various folk remedies.

As noted by the women themselves after PDT was only a temporary subjective effect, after which the itching resumed and they resorted to various folk remedies.

For cancer of the vulva in order to avoid dispersion of tumor cells excision is always carried out radiowave scalpel and apparatus “Harmonics”. In recent years, the excision of the tumor was preceded by her credibilitate to t-185° using the apparatus ERBE, exposure 3-5 min (Figure 3). The results indicate the prospects of this approach, allowing a fixed tumor, it is more convenient to tighten and excise, to reduce blood loss.

To improve quality, the formation of the amount of the external genitalia and reduce the lymphorrhea in recent times we have developed a method rekonstruktivnoi erasers (Patent No. 2580665 for invention dated 11.11.14) of the external genitalia through the mobilization of abdominal skin and fascial flap and the lower segments of the rectus muscles along with epigastrica inferior (Figures 3a-3d).

Closure of the wound was carried out at the beginning cross mobilized segments of direct muscles of a stomach on the vascular pedicle. Last create the missing volume of the labia majora and represent a unique plastic material for vascularization and lymph drainage. In the region of the decussation of the muscles and the ends of the segment performed the fixation to the muscles of the vagina with absorbable sutures so that they hung over the mouth of the urethra and did not close the symphysis of the pubic bones.

The next step was sutured fascia rectus muscles of the abdominal wall. Then put 6-7 stitches by Donati on the skin of the perineum and posterior vaginal wall tension in order to determine to what level will the skin defect to be filled abdominal skin and fascial flap with no tension (Figure 4).

Abdominal skin and fascial flap was laid on the wound surface, adapting it by cutting off the excess and sharp areas of the skin, stitches. Determining the projection of the abdominal flap, adjacent to the pubis, imposes two provisory internal anchor sutures to the periosteum, which is then stitched to the abdominal flap (without the skin), forming the genital fold.

Then through a separate puncture of the abdominal flap in the inguinal areas has introduced an active drainage in the inguinal-femoral area. Then every 0.7-0.8 cm for the tightness of stitches on the skin and the vaginal mucosa around the entire circumference and nodal skin sutures for Donati in inguinal-femoral area.

Surgery was performed in 14 women, mostly aged 45 to 55 years with abdominal obesity. The process is localized on the skin and mucosa of the anterior half of the vulva. In one case, focal leukoplakia was as an independent disease, in the other case was diagnosed with the initial cancer. Healing was by primary intention, with the exception of 1 woman (8.3 ± 1.4%) with obesity and diabetes type II. An important aspect of reconstructive vulvectomy of the abdominal flap in combination with the segments of the rectus muscle on the vascular pedicle was the use of the apparatus “Harmonics” (Germany), which reduced bleeding and duration of lymphorrhea in 2-3 days.

The use of cryoapplication, the apparatus “Harmonics” and individual approach of wound closure, including abdominal flap according to our technique allowed reducing mortality with a tendency to increase morbidity (Figure 5).

CONCLUSION

1.       The treatment of choice for vulvar dystrophy (VIN I-II degree) is PDT, which is in the diffuse forms the transition to the skin back of the thigh and with strong Horny scales should be used in combination with reconstructive plastic.

2.       The use of reconstructive plastic surgery, including use of vascularized lower segment of the rectus abdominis muscle is an individual method of choice in young women with cancer of the vulva and vulvar dystrophies (VIN II-III), a way of preventing the development of invasive forms of cancer, helps to reduce.

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3.       Zharov AV, Vazhenin AV (2005) Optimization of the treatment of patients with cancer of the vulva. Chelyabinsk 2005: 131.

4.       Buscema HHJ (1988) The predominance of human papillomavirus type 16 in vulvar neoplasia. Obstet Gynecol 71: 601-606.

5.       Krikunova LI, Kaplan MA, Rykova EV (1999) The role of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of vulvar cancer. 1st International Conference, Obninsk, pp: 32-33.

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8.       Knapstein PG (1985) Erweiterte Behandlungsmoglichkeiten das Vulvakarzinomas durch plastic reconstruktive Verfahren. Zbl.Gynekol 107: 1479-1487.