Differentiated Exophytic Vulvar Intraepithelial Lesions: Case Reports and Review of Literature

J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2022 Jul 1;26(3):283-286. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000678. Epub 2022 May 5.

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this article were to describe 2 patients with a pathological diagnosis of differentiated exophytic vulvar intraepithelial lesion and to summarize the literature regarding this relatively new diagnosis.

Materials and methods: The existing literature was searched on December 1, 2021, using the MEDLINE database (1966-2021), and all combinations of the following search terms were used: "differentiated exophytic vulvar intraepithelial lesion" and "differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia."

Results: Patients were postmenopausal and reported persistent vulvar itch associated with white hypertrophic plaques. Initial biopsies did not identify differentiated exophytic vulvar intraepithelial lesion. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma was found in both cases after surgical excision.

Conclusions: Differentiated vulvar intraepithelial lesions and invasive squamous cell carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of vulvar itch associated with hypertrophic plaques in postmenopausal women. Excision of suspicious plaques is recommended for definitive diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma in Situ* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma in Situ* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Vulva / pathology
  • Vulvar Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Vulvar Diseases* / pathology
  • Vulvar Diseases* / surgery
  • Vulvar Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Vulvar Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Vulvar Neoplasms* / surgery