The value of routine follow-up in patients treated for carcinoma of the vulva

✍ Scribed by Maaike H. M. Oonk; Joanne A. de Hullu; Harry Hollema; Marian J. E. Mourits; Elisabeth Pras; Anke N. M. Wymenga; Ate G. J. van der Zee

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 82 KB
• Volume: 98
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.11837

✦ Synopsis

BACKGROUND.

Vulvar carcinoma patients traditionally are offered follow-up after their primary treatment because earlier diagnosis of recurrent disease is believed to improve chances for curative treatment. The objective of the current study was to determine the value of a strict routine follow-up protocol for the detection of recurrences in a large series of patients who were treated for carcinoma of the vulva.

METHODS.

Clinicopathologic data for patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva who were treated between January 1990 and July 2000 were prospectively stored in a database. After treatment, patients visited the outpatient clinic at the study institution at gradually increasing intervals. When a recurrence was diagnosed, it was indicated whether the recurrence was local, occurred in the skin bridge, occurred in the inguinal region, or was distant, and this information was registered. Moreover, it was noted whether the diagnosis was made at a routinely scheduled or at an interval follow-up meeting and whether symptoms as noted by the patient herself led to the diagnosis.