An update on vulvar cancer

Vulvar cancer is a rare gynecologic malignancy whose primary treatment is s urgical. It is not uncommon for patients to delay seeking medical attention or for physicians to delay diagnosing the condition. The most prevalent vu lvar cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, with vulvar melanoma being the seco nd most common. The basic understanding of the anatomy and the mechanisms o f lymphatic spread have made modifications in surgical technique possible, allowing less radical excisions with significantly less morbidity. New appr oaches using lymphatic mapping with sentinel node dissection appear promisi ng for the future treatment of early vulvar cancers.