OBJECTIVETo review the diagnosis methods and treatment modalities of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia III (VINIII) and to analyse its prognostic factors.

METHODSThe data of 24 patients with VINIII from 1992 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed and analysed.

RESULTSAmong these 24 patients, 62.5% (15 patients) were aged less than 40 years and 37.5% (9 patients) over 40 years. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was found in 53.3% and 2/9 of these two groups. Treatment modality for all patients was surgical excision including extended local excision (33.3%) and simple vulvectomy (66.7%). 3 patients (12.5%) developed recurrence. Positive resection margin was correlated with recurrence, while age, HPV infection, multifocality and resection modality were not.

CONCLUSIONDuring recent years, the incidence of VIN has been on the increase in younger woman patients which maybe due to the increase of HPV infection, and the data show that the recurrence rate is correlated with positive margin. Treatment should be individualized and either extended local excision or simple vulvectomy is appropriate. Periodical follow-up should be done.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma in Situ ; diagnosis ; surgery ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; surgery ; virology ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; virology