Women with large vulvar lesions who have only a small margin of normal tissue around the tumor on microscopic examination of the surgical specimen may be treated with postoperative external beam radiation therapy to the remaining genital skin.
Five-Year Survival About 50 percent
Investigational
• Preoperative external beam and interstitial radiation therapy (radioactive substances inserted directly into the
tumor for one to two days) with or without chemotherapy (5-FU + mitomycin-C + cisplatin).
• Radiation therapy and heat (hyperthermia) have been used to improve resectability and to decrease the amount
of surgery necessary in women with large cancers or cancers involving the urethra or anus.
Stage IVa
TNM Any T, N2, M0 or T4, N0, M0
The tumor may involve the upper urethra, the bladder mucosa, the rectal mucosa, the
pelvic bone, and/or there are bilateral groin node metastases.
