Outcome of Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Vulvar Carcinoma: Analysis of Inguinal Lymph Node

In Vivo. 2020 Jan-Feb;34(1):307-313. doi: 10.21873/invivo.11775.

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to define the outcome of radiation therapy for vulvar carcinoma, and to investigate the effectiveness of therapeutic and prophylactic inguinal lymph node (ILN) irradiation. Because reports about the treatment of ILN were limited.

Patients and methods: Thirty consecutive vulvar carcinoma patients were treated using external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for definitive disease (n=25) or postoperatively (n=5). Twenty-four (80%) had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Tumor stages (2002 UICC) ranged from 0 to IVB, with no distant metastases.

Results: The median total prescribed dose for primary tumor was 64.8 Gy. The 2-year overall survival rate was 25.3%. The outcome was significantly better in patients with ILNs<30 mm (p=0.005) and patients receiving prescribed doses >60 Gy (p=0.002).

Conclusions: ILN diameters ≤30 mm and prescribed doses over 60 Gy were associated with ILN control in patients with vulvar carcinoma.

Keywords: 3-dimensional radiation therapy; Vulvar carcinoma; external beam radiation therapy; gynecologic malignancies; inguinal lymph node.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Inguinal Canal / pathology*
  • Inguinal Canal / radiation effects
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymph Nodes / radiation effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy
  • Prognosis
  • Radiotherapy / mortality*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / radiotherapy