Clinical Characteristics of Basal Cell Carcinomas of the Vulva: An Institutional Retrospective Review.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the etiology, clinical characteristics, and optimal treatment of vulvar basal cell carcinoma (BCC). OBJECTIVE: This retrospective review may aid in treatment decisions for vulvar BCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of our institutional CoPath database was performed, using search terms to identify cases of vulvar BCCs from 2000 to 2018. RESULTS: A total of 35 cases of vulvar BCC were included. Patient age ranged from 33 to 97 years with a mean age of 70 years. Of the 35 cases, 28 (80%) involved the cutaneous vulva, 6 (17%) involved the suprapubic area, and 1 (3%) involved the clitoris. Most vulvar BCCs were treated by wide local excision (46%) and vulvectomies (37%), with 3 cases treated with Mohs (11%) and 2 with electrodesiccation and curettage (6%). Preoperative tumor sizes were 0.86 cm2 for Mohs, 0.94 cm2 for excision, and 1.54 cm2 for vulvectomy. The mean margins were 3 mm for Mohs, 4.4 mm for wide local excision, and 6 mm for vulvectomy. Most cases (77%) were identified and treated by gynecology. CONCLUSION: Mohs micrographic surgery should be considered for the advantages of being tissue sparing, evaluating the complete peripheral and deep margin, and avoiding the costs and risks of general anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]