European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology (EJGO) is published by IMR Press from Volume 40 Issue 1 (2019). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.
The problem of the so-called precancerous lesions of the vulva ten years of prospective experience
One hundred and seventy six cases of vulvar dystrophies diagnosed and followed between 1968 and 1979 are presented. Characteristics of one hundred and twenty five cases of lichen sclerosus are described. Three of them were associated with CIS and microinvasive carcinoma of the vulva in the first diagnostic study. Relevant data from twenty one cases of epithelial hyperplas,ia and twenty seven cases of mixed dystrophy are described. Three of the hyperplastic dystrophies and four of the mixed dystrophies have atypia (dysplasia). In only one case of mixed dystrophy an early invasive carcinoma started «de novo» in a hyperplastic area without atypia. Results of treatment of L. S. cases with topica! testosterone, of hyperplastic dystrophies with local excision and of mixed with local excision and topical testosterone and corticoids are presented. Results of treatment of dysplasia with local excision are described. A unique case of dysplasia without treatmentthat shows no change in nine years is discussed. More experience is needed to establish the real significance of dysplasia. In properly treated patients with chronic vulvar dystrophies followed through many years no evidence of malignancy was found. Multiple biopsies and careful lifetime follow-up as well as appropriate therapy is mandatory in vulvar dystrophies and dysplasia. Vulvar dystrophies as a whole have a very low malignant potential. In the present study it was less than 4 percent.