Cancer of the vagina and external genitalia

Cancer of the vagina and external genitalia

It occurs in women aged 60 to 70 years and older. The development of cancer of this localization is often preceded by precancerous diseases - leukoplakia and kraurosis. With leukoplakia on the mucous membrane of the labia, white spots are visible in the clitoral circumference, which later turn into plaques that merge with each other, with a tendency to ulceration. When kraurose is observed atrophy and wrinkling of the mucous membrane and skin. Among the clinical symptoms with leukoplakia and kraurosis, itching and burning in the area of ​​the external genitalia are most often noted.

Cancer of the vulva is manifested by a dense nodule or ulceration, which is easily bleeding. The tumor is located in the area of ​​large or small labia, the clitoris, later the vagina, urethra and perineum are involved in the process. Metastases in the regional inguinal, femoral and iliac lymph nodes occur rapidly, metastases to the lungs and other organs may appear.

Among the clinical symptoms of cancer - itching, burning, serous discharge with a trace of blood, pain. The diagnosis is specified for cytological and histological examination. More often squamous cell carcinoma of various degrees of differentiation is detected.

Treatment is a radical vulvectomy with the removal of inguinal lymph nodes. 75% of patients after such surgery live more than 5 years. Radiation therapy is used as an independent method or in the preoperative period. Chemotherapy is used in combination with radiotherapy or alone with advanced disease (bleomycetin, methotrexate, cisplatin, etc.).

Vaginal cancer is manifested by ulceration, tuberous papillary growths or submucosal infiltrate. The tumor bleeds easily. Metastasizes to the iliac, inguinal lymph nodes. With progressive growth sprouts into the bladder, urethra, rectum.

Clinical symptoms: spotting, pain.

Diagnosis is established with biopsy (squamous cell carcinoma). Differential diagnosis is carried out with cervical cancer with the transition to the vagina, metastases of the cancer of the uterus body.

The main method of treatment of vaginal cancer is radiotherapy (a combination of external and intracavitary irradiation).