Vulvar carcinoma, although rare, is difficult to manage. We conducted a study to describe the management in our hospital. From 1978 to 1991, 69 patients with primary carcinoma of the vulva were treated at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. Forty-two patients underwent radical vulvectomy and lymphadenectomy. The data presented the techniques, surgical events and outcome of the operations. The 5 and 10-yr survival rates for the operable cses were 88.5 per cent and only 22 per cent for those who were non-operable. Surgery is still the recommended primary treatment for this rare malignancy of the female genital tract.