Diagnosis and treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

Abstract

Objective: To audit our experience of the diagnosis and treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) in Kandang Kerbau Women's Hospital, Singapore.

Methods: The clinical records of the patients diagnosed as having VAIN at our institution in the calendar year 2009 were periodically reviewed until March 2011.

Results: There were 21 cases of VAIN. The mean follow-up duration was 18.2 months. The lesion grades were VAIN 1 in 9 patients (42.9%), VAIN 2 in 9 patients (42.9%), and VAIN 3 in 3 patients (14.3%). The mean patient age was 39.1 years. Sixteen patients (76.2%) were referred to our institution because of abnormal results to cytology tests and 4 patients (21.9%) were referred because of vaginal warts. The remaining patient was diagnosed from a surgical specimen. The diagnosis involved a cytology test, a colposcopic examination, an acetowhite test, a Schiller test, and a colposcopy-directed biopsy. The treatments varied and included watchful waiting but carbon dioxide laser vaporization was used the most frequently.

Conclusion: After 6 months of follow-up 18 patients were considered cured, for an overall cure rate of 85.7%. Two patients wanted no treatment and disease remained persistent in 1 patient despite laser vaporization and intravaginal applications of imiquimod cream.