Vulvar Diseases that Required a Biopsy: A Retrospective Study

Rita  Bouceiro-Mendes; M. Mendonça-Sanches; Luís Soares-de-Almeida; Isabel Correia-Fonseca; João Borges-da-Costa

doi:10.29021/spdv.79.4.1411

Rita Bouceiro-Mendes Serviço de Dermatologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5034-3613
M. Mendonça-Sanches Serviço de Dermatologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3662-0423
Luís Soares-de-Almeida Serviço de Dermatologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4026-6105
Isabel Correia-Fonseca Serviço de Dermatologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5010-4794
João Borges-da-Costa Serviço de Dermatologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8903-209X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.79.4.1411

Keywords: Biopsy, Vulvar Diseases, Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus, Vulvar Neoplasms

Abstract

Introduction: The vulvar area may be affected by many noninfectious conditions with similar clinical appearance, requiring a cutaneous biopsy. Our goal was to characterize the noninfectious vulvar diseases that required a biopsy in a southwestern Europe Central Hospital during a 10-year period.

Methods: A retrospective study of all the noninfectious vulvar diseases with histological confirmation diagnosed in our institution was conducted between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2017.

Results: The sample included a total of 323 biopsies from 317 patients, aged between 11 and 98 years (mean age of 54.2 years). A total of 36 vulvar diseases was identified. Neoplastic conditions were the most frequently found, particularly melanotic macules (22.3%). The most frequent malignant tumor was vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (6.2%) and squamous cell carcinoma (5.6%). The most common dermatosis was lichen sclerosus (12.7%).

Conclusion: Neoplasms were the most frequently diagnosed conditions affecting the vulvar area that required a biopsy. Ruling out malignancy was also the main reason to perform a biopsy. This study highlights the variety of noninfectious diseases that may affect the vulva and require a biopsy. Since vulvar diseases may be serious and carry high levels of patient distress a correct understanding of these conditions is crucial.

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