Invasive squamous carcinoma of the vulva in young patients

Abstract

Over a 30-year period, 17 patients below the age of 35 with invasive squamous carcinoma of the vulva were identified, 8 of whom (47.1%) had "microinvasive" disease. Venereal diseases and condyloma accuminata were not predisposing factors. Immunosuppression was a contributory factor in 2 patients. Although carcinoma in situ was antecedent in only 1 patient, it was an associated lesion in 87.5% of patients with "microinvasive" and 22.2% of patients with invasive carcinoma. The nature and course of this disease in young patients do not differ from the elder counterpart. Prolonged follow-up of these patients has revealed increased susceptibility of the perineum, vagina, and cervix to multiple neoplasms.