OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of central wedge resection and asymmetric Z-plasty for minor labia reduction.

METHODSBased on the Giraldo procedure, the incision was designed and the redudent tissue was resected quantitatively. The Z-plasty was modified to rectangle flap with deviated incision. The incisions at the two surface of minor labia were designed in an opposited direction. The two rectangle flaps were inserted to form the free edge of minor labia.

RESULTS11 cases of minor labia hypertrophy were treated with good results.

CONCLUSIONSThe modified procedure is easily performed with precise design. It is suitable for all kinds of minor labia hypertrophy.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgery, Plastic ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Vulva ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a pudendal-thigh island flap for vaginal reconstruction.

METHODSForty-seven patients with congenital absence of vagina were undergoing the treatment. Based on the pedicle including the posterior labial neurovascular bundle, a pudendal-thigh island flap was designed and raised in the groin crease just lateral to the labia majora under the deep fascia. It was then transferred to the tunnel between the urethra and the anus for reconstruction of the vagina.

RESULTSFrom May of 1993 to July of 2001, 47 patients were successfully treated for the vaginal reconstruction with the flap. The results were satisfactory without complications.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned technique could be a safe and effect method for vaginal reconstruction with the advantages of reliable blood supply, good sensation and few complications. The areaes with the bilateral pudendal-thigh could be large enongh for the vaginal reconstruction without problem of the donor closure.

Fasciotomy ; Female ; Groin ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Surgical Flaps ; Thigh ; Urethra ; Vagina ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Vulva ; abnormalities ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological features, immnophenotype and differential diagnosis of prepubertal-type vulva fibroma (PVF).

METHODClinical, radiological and pathological features of 2 cases of PVF were analyzed along with a literature review.

RESULTSBoth patients were females of 8.5 and 54 years of age, presented with recurrent unilateral mass at the labium major respectively. Grossly, cut surface of the tumor appeared as the gray fibrous tissue without any definited lump detected. Histologically, the ill-circumscribed lesion located predominantly in the deep dermis with an extension into the subcutaneous tissue. They had a low cell density consisting of scattered spindle shaped fibroblast-like cells and a large amount of collagen fiber matrix, nuclear atypia not seen and mitotic figures scanty. The tumor cells extended downward under the epithelium and infiltrated between the fat tissue, nerve fibers as well as the capillaries making a lesion looked somewhat like a harmatoma. Immunohistochemically, the spindle cells were uniformly positive for vimentin, weakly positive for CD34, and negative for alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), muscle specific actin (HHF35), desmin, h-caldesmon, CD99, S-100 protein, bcl-2, beta-catenin, estrogen and progesterone receptors.

CONCLUSIONSPVF is a benign mesenchymal lesion with a predilection of involving the vulva of prepubertal girls or adults in rare cases. PVF may represent an overgrowth of normal stromal tissue of vulva. Approximately one third of the tumors develop local recurrence due to incomplete excision, however, there is also occasionally spontaneous regression.

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Vulva ; pathology ; surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To create a comprehensive algorithmic approach to reconstruction after vulvar cancer ablative surgery, which includes both traditional and perforator flaps, evaluating anatomical subunits and shape of the defect. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 80 cases of reconstruction after vulvar cancer ablative surgery, performed between June 2006 and January 2016, transferring 101 flaps. We registered the possibility to achieve the complete wound closure, even in presence of very complex defects, and the postoperative complications. On the basis of these experience, analyzing the choices made and considering the complications, we developed an algorithm to help with the selection of the flap in vulvoperineal reconstruction after oncologic ablative surgery for vulvar cancer. RESULTS: We employed eight types of different flaps, including 54 traditional fasciocutaneous V-Y flaps, 23 rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, 11 anterolateral thigh flaps, three V-Y gracilis myocutaneous flaps, three free style perforators V-Y flaps from the inner thigh, two Limberg flaps, two lotus flaps, two deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap, and one superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap. The structures most frequently involved in resection were vulva, perineum, mons pubis, groins, vagina, urethra and, more rarely, rectum, bladder, and lower abdominal wall. CONCLUSION: The algorithm we implemented can be a useful tool to help flap selection. The key points in the decision-making process are: anatomical subunits to be covered, overall shape and symmetry of the defect and some patient features such as skin laxity or previous radiotherapy. Perforator flaps, when feasible, must be considered standard in vulvoperineal reconstruction, although in some cases traditional flaps remain the best choice.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures/adverse effects/methods ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps/adverse effects ; Vulva/*surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms/*surgery

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of sartorius tendon transposition versus sartorius transposition during bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy of radical vulvectomy. METHODS: A total of 58 vulvar cancer patients who had surgery from May 2007 to October 2013, in which 30 patients received sartorius transposition and 28 patients received sartorius tendon transposition. All patients were matched by age, body mass index, stage, histology, and grade. Intraoperative variables and postoperative complications, recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) and postoperative life quality were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found at median surgical times and amounts of bleeding (p=0.316 and p=0.249, respectively), neither at the incidences of groin cellulitis and lymphocele (p=0.673 and p=0.473, respectively), but the recovery times of the inguinal wounds were shorter (p=0.026) and the incidences of wound break and chronic lymphedema were significantly decreased in the tendon transposition group (p=0.012 and p=0.022, respectively). Postoperative quality of life in tendon transposition group was significantly improved as indicated by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Recurrences were similar (p=0.346) and no significant differences were found at PFS and OS (p=0.990 and p=0.683, respectively). CONCLUSION: Compared to sartorius transposition, sartorius tendon transposition during inguinal lymphadenectomy led to improved patient recovery, reduced postoperative complications, and improved life quality without compromising the outcomes.
Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision/*methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Organ Sparing Treatments/methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Surgical Wound Infection/etiology ; Tendons/*transplantation ; Vulva/*surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms/*surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin gland.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of six patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin gland were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 40.8 years (range 30 to 54 years). Surgery was the primary treatment. Simple vulvar tumor resection was performed in 1 patient. Four cases underwent radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection and 1 case underwent wide local excision of the vulva with bilateral inguinal lymph node biopsy. Two cases with high risk factors received postoperative radiotherapy.

RESULTSAll patients had definite pathological diagnosis. Cribriform arrangement of tubules and gland-like elements and infiltration of perineural spaces were two main microscopic features of this type of tumor. The pathological examination after surgery revealed that two patients had positive surgical margins, one had negative margin, 1 adjacent to the tumor and 1 unknown; 5 cases had negative inguinal lymph nodes and 1 unknown. All the 6 patients were followed-up. Recurrence developed in 4 cases including 3 with both local recurrence and lung metastasis, and one had lung metastasis only. One patient died of lung metastasis and her total survival period was 135 months. The other 3 recurrent patients survived with tumor and the total survival period was 241, 128 and 103 months, respectively. Two cases without recurrence survived 8 and 121 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAdenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin gland is a slow growing but locally very aggressive neoplasm with a high capacity for local recurrence and lung metastasis. Surgery is the most common and useful treatment. Radiation is a choice of treatment for patients with high risk factors after surgery such as positive surgical margin, deep local invasion and infiltration of perineural spaces or for recurrent patients without opportunity of excision.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bartholin's Glands ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Radiotherapy, High-Energy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Vulva ; surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery

OBJECTIVEThis is to introduce a method for vagina reconstruction using the expanded labia minora flap.

METHODSTwo tissue expanders were implanted in the labia minora bilaterally and expanded slowly over 4 weeks. In the operation, the expanded labial tissue was advanced as a bipedicle flap to line the reconstructed vagina. Five patients were treated with this method. Postoperative stent placement and dilation resulted in a vaginal canal exceeding 8 cm in depth.

RESULTSDuring the follow-up of 6 months to 2 years, four of the five patients got married. The vulva exhibited almost indistinguishable appearance. The reconstructed vagina had sensory and secretary functions. Its morphology and depth well meet the physiological demand.

CONCLUSIONSThe modified method of tissue expansion vaginoplasty using the labia minora bipedicle flap is a good option for vagina surgery. The reconstructed vagina possesses the anatomical and physiological resemblance.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Organ Size ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Stents ; Surgical Flaps ; transplantation ; Tissue Expansion ; methods ; Tissue Expansion Devices ; Vagina ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; surgery ; Vulva ; transplantation

OBJECTIVEVulvar epithelioid sarcoma is a rare, undifferentiated soft-tissue sarcoma, with a high rate of local relapse, regional nodal spread and distant metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this malignancy.

METHODSWe studied the clinicopathologic features of 20 cases of vulvar epithelioid sarcoma, of which 4 cases were admitted to our hospital from 1999 to 2009. All of the patients received radical local excision with inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. Seven patients were treated without adjuvant therapy. Seven patients received postoperative radiotherapy only and three underwent chemotherapy. Chemotherapy plus radiotherapy were given postoperatively in three.

RESULTSThe patients ranged in age from 23 to 80 years (median: 36 y). The tumors ranged from 1 to 10 cm in their greatest diameter (median: 5.1 cm). All cases showed immunoreactivity for both vimentin and cytokeratin. Follow-up information on all 20 patients was available, and covered periods ranging from 3 to 104 months.11 patients were alive with no evidence of disease. 2 patients developed lymph node metastases but alive. 7 patients had died of the disease. Survival of the early stage (I-II) patients was significantly longer than those in the advanced stage (III-IV) (median, 21 vs. 6 months, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between survival of patients with or without inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (median, 11.5 vs. 6 months, P = 0.086).

CONCLUSIONSBecause of the relatively frequent misdiagnosis, a differential diagnosis combined with immunohistochemistry is needed to determine an early and accurate diagnosis. The tumor markers exhibiting immunoreactivity includ vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and cytokeratin (CK). Radical local excision with adequate margin (at least 2 cm) and bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy is effective for the treatment of vulvar epithelioid sarcoma. The role of adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy and radiation remains unclear but merits consideration.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Vulva ; surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Young Adult