Current controversies in the management of patients with early-stage vulvar cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to outline current controversies in management of early-stage vulvar cancer. The main focus will be on the procedures for assessing the sentinel node and the treatment of those with evidence of metastatic involvement. RECENT FINDINGS: Assessment of the sentinel node has recently been introduced into the standard treatment of early-stage squamous cell vulvar cancer. The combination of a radioactive tracer and blue dye is the most accurate technique for sentinel node detection. Preoperative imaging is recommended to rule out gross nodal involvement and ultrasound with fine needle aspiration cytology by an experienced radiologist appears to have the highest sensitivity/specificity for detecting metastases, although large comparative studies are not available. All patients with sentinel node metastases require additional treatment to the groin, independent of the size of metastasis in the sentinel node and currently this involves inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. Further research is ongoing to investigate the role of radiotherapy instead of lymphadenectomy. The little experience there is of sentinel node biopsy in vulvar melanoma suggests that the procedure is feasible and inclusion criteria should follow those of cutaneous melanoma. SUMMARY: Sentinel node biopsy is safe in treatment of early-stage vulvar cancer. Ongoing studies are investigating the optimal additional treatment for patients with a positive sentinel node in terms of efficacy and morbidity.