Paget disease of the vulva

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia: Classification, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is classified into two entities: differentiated (dVIN) and vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (vH-SIL). dVIN is a premalignant lesion that develops on an existing vulvar lesion such as lichen sclerosus, while vH-SIL is associated with HPV infection. The two entities differ in terms of pathophysiology, background, prognosis, and management. The incidence of VIN in young women is rising and recurrence is common, even after radical surgery, which can cause significant disfigurement. Alternative strategies include topical treatments, ablation, and a watch-and-wait approach. There is currently no consensus on how these lesions should be managed. We review the literature in this field.

Invasive vulvar extramammary Paget's disease in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence, treatment, and outcomes in patients with invasive vulvar extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) in a national cohort of patients.

METHODS

Patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database with diagnoses of vulvar EMPD from 1992 to 2016 were included. Demographic, treatment, and outcome data were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1268 cases of invasive EMPD were identified. Of those, 69.6% had localized disease, 12.0% regional disease, 1.3% distant disease, and 17.1% were unstaged. The annual incidence of invasive vulvar EMPD was 0.36 per 100,000 person years: rates have increased >2-fold since 1992 (1992: 0.19 per 100,000 person years to 0.50 per 100,000 person years in 2016). Most patients underwent primary surgery (n = 1034; 81.5%). Five-year cancer specific survival (CSS) was 95.5% and was associated with stage. Compared to patients with localized disease, patients with distant metastases had dramatically worse CSS (HR: 85.8 (31.8-248) p < 0.0001). Synchronous cancers (diagnosed within one calendar year of EMPD diagnosis year) were observed in 35 cases (2.8%), and 195 patients (15.4%) developed a secondary malignancy (diagnosed >one year from year of EMPD diagnosis year). The most common synchronous breast, gastrointestinal tract, melanoma and the most common secondary cancers were breast, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of invasive vulvar EMPD has increased over time. CSS is excellent for localized disease, but those with metastatic disease are in need of novel therapies. Approximately 15% will develop a secondary malignancy, indicating that patients with invasive vulvar EMPD should undergo site specific preventative health screens during recurrence surveillance.

Vulvamalignome: eine interdisziplinäre Betrachtung

Vulvamalignome stellen die vierthäufigste Gruppe von gynäkologischen Krebserkrankungen dar. Erste Ansprechpartner sind typischerweise niedergelassene Dermatologen und Gynäkologen. Mit der jeweiligen Fachexpertise findet die Diagnose und Therapie idealerweise interdisziplinär zwischen spezialisierten Dermatoonkologen und gynäkologischen Onkologen statt. Vulvamalignome sind überwiegend Erkrankungen des höheren Lebensalters, obwohl alle histologischen Subtypen auch bei Frauen unter 30 Jahren vorkommen. Die Diagnose erfolgt oft verzögert. Eine genaue Kartierung von Biopsien (Mapping) ist von großer Bedeutung, da Lokalisation und Entfernung von der Mittellinie in Abhängigkeit von der zugrunde liegenden Histologie das operative Vorgehen bestimmen. Plattenepithelkarzinome machen mehr als 76 % der Vulvamalignome aus und vulväre intraepitheliale Neoplasien (VIN) sind dabei wichtige Vorstufen. Der zweithäufigste Typ der Vulvakarzinome ist das Basalzellkarzinom. Melanome machen 5,7 % der vulvären Malignome aus und ihre Prognose ist schlechter als die der kutanen Melanome. Die meisten Studien zu Checkpoint-Inhibitoren und zielgerichteten Therapien haben Patientinnen mit vulvären Melanomen nicht ausgeschlossen. Die vorliegende Evidenz wird im folgenden diskutiert. Die Methode der Wahl bei lokal resezierbaren Vulvamalignomen ist die Exzision. Angesichts ihrer Seltenheit sollte die Behandlung in spezialisierten Zentren erfolgen, um eine optimale Krankheitskontrolle zu erreichen und Kontinenz und sexuelle Funktion bestmöglich zu erhalten.

Vulvar malignancies: an interdisciplinary perspective

Vulvar cancer represents the fourth most common gynecologic malignancy and is often encountered by the general Dermatologist or Gynecologist. Dermatooncologists and Gynecologic Oncologists share expertise in this field and the diagnosis and treatment should ideally be interdisciplinary. All subtypes are typically seen in the later decades of life, although all histologic subtypes have been described in women younger than 30 years. The diagnosis is often delayed. Exact mapping of biopsies is of high importance, as the location and distance from the midline guides the surgical approach depending on the underlying histology. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for more than 76 % of vulvar cancer with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia being an important precursor. Basal cell carcinoma is the second most common vulvar malignancy. Melanoma accounts for 5.7 % of vulvar cancer and has a worse prognosis compared to cutaneous melanoma. Most of the trials on checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy have not excluded patients with vulvar melanoma and the preliminary evidence is reviewed in the manuscript.

Surgery remains the primary treatment modality of locally resectable vulvar cancer. In view of the rarity, the procedure should be performed in dedicated cancer centers to achieve optimal disease control and maintain continence and sexual function whenever possible.

Photodynamic Therapy Using a New Painless Light-Emitting Fabrics Device in the Treatment of Extramammary Paget Disease of the Vulva (the PAGETEX Study): Protocol for an Interventional Efficacy and Safety Trial

Background

Extramammary Paget disease of the vulva (EMPV) is a rare skin disorder commonly seen in postmenopausal Caucasian females that appears clinically as red, eczematous, pruriginous, and sometimes painful lesions. Although most cases are noninvasive, EMPV may be associated with an underlying or distant adenocarcinoma. EMPV has a chronic and relapsing course. The reference treatment is based on local surgical excision with negative margins. However, disease frequently extends far from the visible lesion, and surgical margins are frequently positive. Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an established treatment modality for various dermatooncologic conditions. For example, red light irradiation with the Aktilite CL 128 and Metvixia (Galderma SA) as a photosensitizing molecule is a conventional protocol approved and widely used in Europe for PDT treatment of actinic keratosis, but this treatment is not yet widely used for EMPV because it has never clearly been demonstrated and is very painful.

Objective

The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy and safety relating to the medical device PAGETEX as a new painless PDT device using Metvixia in the treatment of vulvar Paget disease. The primary end point is the disease control rate at 3 months in 30% of the patients included, defined as stability, partial response, or total response, considering the extent of the lesion. Secondary end points are the disease control rate at 6 months, patient quality of life, level of pain experienced by the patient at each PDT session, severity of erythema, presence of protoporphyrin IX in Paget cells after each PDT session, and overall satisfaction level of the patient.

Methods

The trial is an interventional, exploratory, simple group, nonrandomized, and single center (Lille University Hospital) study. Twenty-four patients will be included according to Simon’s optimal plan. Therapeutic procedure is based on a cycle of two PDT sessions with the PAGETEX medical device at 15-day intervals (Metvixia incubation during 30 minutes and 635 nm red light illumination with a low irradiance for 2 hours and 30 minutes for a total fluence of 12 J/cm²). At the assessment session, 3 months after inclusion, if the control of the disease is partial or null, the patient will complete another cycle of two PDT sessions. A final evaluation will be performed in all patients at 6 months. Analyses will be performed using SAS version 9.4 software (SAS Institute Inc). The characteristics of the patients at baseline will be described; qualitative variables will be described by numbers and percentages, and quantitative variables will be described either by the mean and standard deviation for Gaussian distribution or by the median and interquartile range (ie, 25th and 75th percentiles). The normality of the distributions will be tested by a Shapiro-Wilk test and checked graphically by histograms.

Results

First patient was included in September 2019 and clinical investigations are planned until August 2022. The final results of this study are expected to be available in January 2023.

Conclusions

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new PDT protocol for the treatment of EMPV. The PAGETEX device could become the treatment of choice if it is effective, painless, and easy to implement and use in hospitals.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03713203; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03713203

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/15026

Extramammary Paget disease of the vulva: Management and prognosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics, management and prognosis of patients with vulvar extramammary Paget disease of the vulva (EMPD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The U.S National Cancer Database was accessed and patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 with microscopically confirmed vulvar EMPD were selected. Overall survival (OS) was calculated for patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2014, who had at least one month of follow-up. Five year OS rates were calculated following generation of Kaplan-Meier curves while comparisons were made with the log-rank test.

RESULTS

A total of 2602 patients were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 72 years (range 31-90 years) and the majority were of White race (92%), without any co-morbidities (80.9%). Personal history of another tumor was present in 36.9% of patients. In situ EMPD was diagnosed in 994 cases (38.2%) and the majority (95.1%) were managed with local excision or vulvectomy. Five-year OS was 85.8%, while presence of positive margins was not associated with worse OS (p = 0.38). Invasive EMPD was diagnosed in 1608 (61.8%) patients. Staging information was available for 1172 patients, 75.3% had early stage disease. Most patients underwent surgical treatment (91.6%); 53.6% had positive margins. Performance of lymphadenectomy was infrequent (6.8%). Moreover, immunotherapy (4.5%), chemotherapy (1.5%) and radiation therapy (2.2%) were rarely employed in the management of invasive EMPD. Patients with early stage disease (n = 766) had better OS compared to those with advanced stage (n = 278) (5-yr OS rates were 84.3% and 73.6% respectively, p = 0.015) while presence of positive margins was not associated with worse OS (p = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Extramammary Paget disease is a rare vulvar tumor. Surgical excision is the main treatment option while other modalities are rarely employed. Overall survival rates are encouraging.

Extramammary Paget disease shows differential expression of B7 family members B7-H3, B7-H4, PD-L1, PD-L2 and cancer/testis antigens NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare cutaneous adenocarcinoma of the anogenital region most commonly treated with surgical excision. Surgical margin clearance is often problematic and recurrence rates remain high indicating the need for additional therapeutic options. Topical immunomodulators have been used with reported success suggesting EMPD may respond to other immunotherapies. This study investigates EMPD protein expression of targetable B7 family members and cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) B7-H3, B7-H4, PD-L1, PD-L2, MAGE-A, and NY-ESO-1 and components of antigen presenting machinery B2M and MHC-I. Fifty-seven specimens from 48 patients (31 female and 17 male), representing in situ, invasive, and metastatic disease of primary and secondary origin were stained and scored (627 total slides). The percentage of cases expressing each immune regulatory molecule in the in situ followed by invasive tumor components was: B7-H3 (94, 90), B7-H4 (82, 78), PD-L1 (6, 10), MAGE-A (39, 50), NY-ESO-1 (16, 20), B2M (100, 89), and MHC-I (78, 79). PD-L2 was negative in all cases. There was high correlation between marker expression within the in situ and invasive tumor components of the same case. B7-H4 was preferentially expressed in primary cutaneous EMPD. Co-expression of B7 family members B7-H3 and B7-H4 was found within the in situ and invasive tumor components of 74% and 48% of cases, respectively. These findings provide an initial characterization of EMPD tumor cell expression of B7-H3, B7-H4, PD-L1, PD-L2, MAGE-A, and NY-ESO-1 and indicate the potential for new immunotherapeutic options for patients with EMPD.

New Directions in Vulvar Cancer Pathology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this article is to provide clinicians and pathologists with an understanding of the aetiopathology, pathogenesis and classification of vulval neoplasia and their molecular correlates.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is an increased understanding of subcellular changes in vulvar malignancies. These provide the direction for further research and aid personalised treatment for patients. The article explores concepts of the aetiology of vulvar cancer and updates the reader with the equivalence of terminology of preneoplastic vulval disease. The differential diagnosis of squamous neoplasia and their clinicopathological correlation is detailed. The salient findings from recent literature into the understanding of the disease of squamous cell neoplasia and rare vulvar malignancies are summarised.

Vulvo-Perineal and Perianal Paget Disease. Radical Excision and Reconstruction with Singapore Flap

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is an uncommon intraepithelial malignancy, affecting the vulvo-perineal and perianal region, occurring in 6.5% of all Paget diseases. Usually, an underlying invasive adenocarcinoma denotes a more aggressive behaviour of the disease. We present the multidisciplinary approach in a 75-year old patient with this rare disease. The patient underwent a radical surgical excision and, subsequently, a Singapore flap was used for primary closure. The final histology confirmed the presence of a non-invasive Paget tumor, but a focus of high-grade invasive adenocarcinoma was noted in a perineal nodule. The histological margins were free of tumor. The patient did not undergo any adjuvant treatment because of severe chronic medical problems, although, eighteen months after treatment, she remains well, with no signs of recurrence. In conclusion, radical surgical excision, often necessitating reconstruction techniques, remains the gold standard of care and further adjuvant treatment should be individualised.

Pre-Paget cells: Evidence of keratinocyte origin of extramammary Paget's disease

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a carcinoma of the genital, perianal, and, rarely, axillary skin. The malignant Paget cells migrate extensively in the epidermis before invading the underlying dermis. Toker cells and keratinocytes have both been suggested as the cells of origin of EMPD. Paraffin sections of eight cases of EMPD were immunohistochemically stained for carcinoembryonic antigen, a known marker for Paget cells. The presence of carcinoembryonic antigen in some keratinocytes in all of the observed cases of EMPD suggests that EMPD originates from keratinocytes. Thus, keratinocytes containing carcinoembryonic antigen are pre-Paget cells.

A Case of Chronic and Relapsing Paget Disease of the Vulva

Extramammary Paget disease is a rare neoplastic condition that more commonly affects postmenopausal Caucasian women. Although the vulvar area is the most frequently affected location, it corresponds solely to 1 to 2% of all vulvar malignancies. A 72-year-old female patient was observed in our outpatient clinic with a 2-year history of an erythematous and pruritic plaque on the vulva. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry studies were compatible with extramammary Paget disease of the vulva. Associated neoplastic conditions were excluded. Due to multiple relapses, the patient was submitted to three surgical interventions, including a total vulvectomy, and to external radiotherapy. The present case illustrates the chronic and recurrent nature of extramammary Paget disease despite aggressive procedures as well as the challenge in obtaining tumor-free resection margins.

Paget disease of the vulva

Vulvar Paget disease (VPD) is an unusual and rare adenocarcinoma that can be challenging to diagnose. Although the condition has a high treatment success rate, it can be associated with underlying malignancy, recurrence rates can be high, and patients often need regular and frequent follow-up. The article describes a woman whose nonresolving, pruritic vulvar lesion was found to be VPD on biopsy.

Reviewing vulvar Paget's disease molecular bases. Looking forward to personalized target therapies: a matter of CHANGE

OBJECTIVES

To review the published literature on vulvar Paget's disease (VPD) molecular bases, aiming to support the need for tailored treatment in women affected by this 'orphan' tumor.

METHODS

MEDLINE-PubMed and Scopus were interrogated using the following algorithm: (extramammary OR extra mammary OR vulvar) AND (paget OR pagets OR paget's) AND (molecular OR biological OR marker OR protein OR target OR expression). The inclusion criteria for papers were: peer-reviewed English-language journals, articles published in the last 30 years, studies focused on fixed research questions, quality assessment on the basis of the relevance and contribution to the selected topics.

RESULTS

A total of 42 studies were selected, providing the following results. Molecular markers implicated in cell cycle transitions seem to be related to prognosis and could help to tailor conventional treatments. Fragmented but consistent preliminary data exist on hormonal receptor expression, ERBB2 amplification/overexpression and abnormal vascular proliferation, offering a concrete possibility for target therapy trials. Conversely, other fields linked to the possible use of immunotherapy are currently relatively unexplored, such as the tumor 'immune contexture', programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and defects in the mismatch repair system, which is involved in genomic instability and potentially promotes a consistent response to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional effort is needed to further characterize these aspects. Centralization of patients in dedicated units would be beneficial for concentrating patient numbers, collecting valuable clinical data and conducting clinical trials. Interdisciplinary study platforms should be developed and integrated into wider multicentric networks.

[Inflammatory Diseases of the Vulva - a Dermatologist's Point of View]

Inflammatory Diseases of the Vulva - a Dermatologist's Point of View Abstract. Inflammatory vulvar diseases include a variety of disorders - many of which have a chronic course with significant morbidity. Diagnosis and especially treatment can be challenging for the clinician and warrant an interdisciplinary approach. This review covers the most common non-infectious and non-malignant vulvar diseases - from a dermatological point of view. The typical clinical symptoms, clinical appearances, treatment modalities of the main non-infectious vulvar diseases are highlighted; additionally, important dermatological differential diagnoses which should not be forgotten will be mentioned.

Extramammary Paget's disease: a review of the literature

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare cutaneous malignancy. The disease typically affects older individuals aged 60-80 years and is seen most frequently in postmenopausal Caucasian women and Asian men. EMPD exhibits a predilection for the genital and perianal regions and may be associated with an underlying carcinoma in adjacent organs. EMPD presents a challenge in both diagnosis and management. Often treated empirically as various dermatitides, the correct diagnosis is frequently delayed by many years. Following diagnosis, an extensive search for an associated malignancy should be initiated. If invasive disease is present on biopsy, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may guide further treatment. Mohs micrographic surgery appears to be superior to wide local excision when considering tissue sparing ability and disease recurrence. Nonsurgical interventions have also been investigated with varied results. Regardless of treatment method, long-term follow-up is recommended to monitor for local disease recurrence, development of internal malignancy, regional lymphadenopathy, or distant metastasis.

Bladder Carcinoma Presenting as Paget's Disease of Vulva: An Uncommon Entity

Paget's disease of the vulva is a rare intraepithelial neoplasm, accounting for <5% of all vulvar lesions. The underlying mechanisms of this disease are still poorly understood, however, diagnosing a Pagetoid lesion early is of prime importance as it may forewarn an underlying systemic malignancy. We discuss the case of an elderly female who was being conservatively treated for infectious lesion of the lower urinary tract and vulva for months. She was subsequently confirmed on histopathology with vulvar Paget's and underlying urothelial carcinoma, with the help of an extensive panel of immunohistochemistry.

Invasive Paget's disease of the vulva treated with a combination of surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy: A case report

Invasive Paget's disease of the vulva (IP) is rare among patients with vulvar cancer. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are not considered as radical, whereas surgical resection of the tumor with abdominal lymphadenectomy is highly invasive. Thus, more effective and less invasive treatments for IP are required. The present study reports a case of a 64-year-old woman with IP, who was treated with a combination of surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). The patient was diagnosed with IP with suspected lymph node metastases to the inguinal and pelvic lymph nodes, after having suffered from pruritus vulvae for 7 years. Following mapping biopsy, wide local excision, bilateral inguinal lymph node resection and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy were successfully performed. The vulva was reconstructed with a local fat flap. Postoperative pathological examination revealed metastases to the bilateral superficial inguinal and the left obturator and lateral suprainguinal lymph nodes. Adjuvant CCRT (whole pelvic irradiation, 50.4 Gy with weekly cisplatin, 40 mg/m²) was completed without notable complications. Therefore, laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy may be useful in determining the irradiation field for adjuvant CCRT in patients with advanced IP.

Pathology Consultation for the Gynecologic Oncologist: What the Surgeon Wants to Know

CONTEXT.—

Clinical management of gynecologic malignancies is often multimodal. Pathologic diagnoses, patient-related factors, and disease-related factors all contribute to clinical decision making.

OBJECTIVE.—

To review the role of surgical pathology in treatment planning among women with gynecologic malignancies.

DATA SOURCES.—

An analysis of relevant literature (PubMed Plus [National Center for Biotechnology Information, Bethesda, Maryland] and Medline [Ovid, New York, New York]) and the authors' clinical practice experience were used.

CONCLUSIONS.—

Pathologic evaluation of gynecologic malignancies with traditional histopathology, assessment of genetic alterations, and identification of tumor biomarkers are critical to traditional treatment planning as well as for ongoing clinical trials.

Evidence-Based Screening Recommendations for Occult Cancers in the Setting of Newly Diagnosed Extramammary Paget Disease

OBJECTIVES

To identify the rates of associated and occult cancers in patients with extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) discovered using cancer screening methods at a tertiary medical center; to propose evidence-based cancer screening guidelines at the time of diagnosis of EMPD; and to clarify terminology associating EMPD with underlying malignancies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with histologically confirmed EMPD presenting for care at our institution between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2015, was performed. Both male and female patients were included. Descriptive analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 161 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most (59.6%) were female patients, and the mean age at the time of EMPD diagnosis was 70.8±10.1 years. Most (82%) of the 161 patients had at least 1 cancer screening test performed, though screening practices varied widely. Of those screened for an underlying malignancy, 17 distant, noncontiguous malignancies were identified in 15 patients (11.4%), with prostate (n=5), urinary tract (n=5), and breast (n=2) malignancies found most frequently. Most malignancies were identified by urine cytology, mammography, and prostate-specific antigen blood test. Of all patients, 37 (23.0%) had an underlying contiguous malignancy identified by pathology.

CONCLUSION

All patients diagnosed with EMPD should undergo cancer screening. At minimum, evaluation should include age-appropriate screening and the addition of urine cytology, mammography, and prostate-specific antigen blood test-if not already performed-may be of particular use. An algorithm for evaluation of patients with newly diagnosed EMPD is proposed.

Boron neutron capture therapy for vulvar melanoma and genital extramammary Paget's disease with curative responses

BACKGROUND

Although the most commonly recommended treatment for melanoma and extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) of the genital region is wide surgical excision of the lesion, the procedure is highly invasive and can lead to functional and sexual problems. Alternative treatments have been used for local control when wide local excision was not feasible. Here, we describe four patients with genital malignancies who were treated with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).

METHODS

The four patients included one patient with vulvar melanoma (VM) and three with genital EMPD. They underwent BNCT at the Kyoto University Research Reactor between 2005 and 2014 using para-boronophenylalanine as the boron delivery agent. They were irradiated with an epithermal neutron beam between the curative tumor dose and the tolerable skin/mucosal doses.

RESULTS

All patients showed similar tumor and normal tissue responses following BNCT and achieved complete responses within 6 months. The most severe normal tissue response was moderate skin erosion during the first 2 months, which diminished gradually thereafter. Dysuria or contact pain persisted for 2 months and resolved completely by 4 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Treating VM and EMPD with BNCT resulted in complete local tumor control. Based on our clinical experience, we conclude that BNCT is a promising treatment for primary VM and EMPD of the genital region. Trial registration numbers UMIN000005124.

P16 Expression in Extramammary Paget's Disease of the Vulva and Scrotum Is Not Human Papillomavirus Related

INTRODUCTION

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) of the vulva has been shown to express p16 by immunohistochemistry (IHC), however, p16 expression in the vulva and scrotum has not been extensively studied in relation to human papillomavirus (HPV) within EMPD of both the vulva and scrotum.

DESIGN

Twenty-two cases of EMPD (vulva, 16; scrotum, 6) were found in our laboratory information system. P16 and HPV IHC were performed. Any p16 reactivity less than 10% was considered negative. HPV in situ hybridization for both low- and high-risk HPV was also performed on all cases.

RESULTS

Of the 6 scrotal EMPD, 3 (50%) showed weak to moderate positive reactivity for p16 by IHC. Of the 16 vulvar EMPD, 13 (81%) were positive for p16, with at least moderate (2+) intensity with a mean expression of 33.3% (range = 10% to 80%) and 62% (range = 20% to 95%) in scrotal and vulvar EMPD, respectively. None of the scrotal or vulvar cases showed positive reactivity for HPV either by IHC or in situ hybridization.

CONCLUSION

Both vulvar and scrotal EMPD can express p16 by IHC, more commonly vulvar than scrotal; however, no HPV was detected either by IHC or in situ hybridization. EMPD of vulva and scrotum does not appear to be related to HPV, and p16 expression may be regulated through a different mechanism.

The Role of Radiotherapy in Extramammary Paget Disease: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare neoplasm of the skin generally affecting the anogenital area. Because of the low-frequency of the disease, no specific guidelines about the treatment strategy are available. Surgery is the recommended therapy for resectable and localized disease, but several other local treatments have been reported such as radiotherapy (RT). Most articles report small retrospective studies, referring to patients treated decades ago with large heterogeneity in terms of RT dose and technique. The aim of this study was to systematically review the main experiences in RT for the treatment of EMPD in the past 30 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search of the bibliographic databases PubMed and Scopus from January 1986 to January 2017 was performed including studies published in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and German language.

RESULTS

According to the search strategy, 19 full-text articles, published from 1991 to 2015, fulfilled inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. All articles were retrospective analyses with no randomized controlled trials. These studies evaluated 195 EMPD patients treated with RT, delivered in several settings. A large variability in terms of RT doses, fractionation, clinical setting, and techniques was found.Radiotherapy was administered as definitive treatment for primary or recurrent disease after surgery in 18 studies with doses ranging from 30 to 80.2 Gy delivered in 3 to 43 fractions. Radiotherapy was administered as postoperative adjuvant treatment in 9 articles with doses ranging between 32 and 64.8 Gy in 20 to 30 fractions. Two studies reported the RT use in preoperative neoadjuvant setting with doses ranging between 40 and 43.30 Gy, and 2 experiences reported the RT treatment for in situ EMPD, using 39.6 to 40 Gy. Adverse events were reported in almost all but 2 articles and were grade 2 or lower.The 18 studies evaluating RT as definitive treatment for primary or recurrent disease after surgery reported a complete response rate ranging from 50% to 100%, with a variable rate of local relapse or persistent disease ranging from 0% to 80% of cases. The 9 studies evaluating RT as postoperative adjuvant treatment reported a local relapse or persistent disease rate of 0% to 62.5%. A dose-response relationship was reported suggesting doses greater than or equal to 60 Gy for gross tumor volume treatment. Local control, disease-free survival, and overall survival at 12, 20, and 60 months have been retrieved for available data, respectively.In patients with EMPD and concurrent underlying internal malignancy, the prognosis was often worsened by the latter. In this setting, literature analysis showed a potential RT palliative role for symptoms control or local control maintenance.Derma tumor invasion greater than 1 mm and lymph node metastases were reported to be important prognostic factors for distant metastases or death.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, literature highlights the role of RT in the management of EMPD, but with low level of evidences.

Extramammary Paget Disease of the Vulva: A Case Series Examining Treatment, Recurrence, and Malignant Transformation

Objectives

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) of the vulva is a rare lesion with a high recurrence rate ranging from 12% to 61%. The rate of underlying adenocarcinoma varies, but in the largest series was reported at 4%. Given the rarity of the disease there is a paucity of data to optimize treatment. This study aims to describe the management and recurrence patterns in a tertiary care setting and to offer suggestions for management in a modern-day setting.

Methods

Patients with pathologically confirmed EMPD treated from 2000 to 2015 were retrospectively identified using an IRB approved database. Clinical data were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Pathology underwent central review.

Results

Forty-four patients met criteria and underwent central pathology review. Forty-two patients were treated with surgical excision. Alternative treatment modalities included Mohs surgery in 3 patients and medical therapy in 20 patients. The median number of surgical procedures was 1 and the number of procedures ranged from 1 to 16. Twenty-five patients (56.8%) had recurrent disease with a median of 2 (1-6) recurrences per patient. The median disease-free interval was 28.7 months with a median follow up of 45.8 months (1.2-178.9 months). Three patients (7%) had invasive cancer and 7 patients (16%) were diagnosed with a separate malignancy at or following diagnosis of EMPD. Despite radical resection, the majority of patients had positive margins and there was no significant difference in disease recurrence between simple and radical resection (P = 0.69).

Conclusions

Patients with EMPD in this series have a high rate of recurrence. Many undergo multi-modal therapy often with multiple providers. However, patients experience relatively long disease-free intervals with a low rate of associated malignancy. We propose an algorithm for management that focuses on symptom control and minimizing morbidity of treatment intervention once invasive disease has been excluded.

Vulvar carcinoma: dilemma, debates, and decisions

Vulvar carcinoma is a rare and aggressive gynecological malignancy. It affects elderly females, with the mean age at diagnosis being 55-60 years. Regional metastasis to inguinal lymph nodes is common. There is a high incidence of pelvic node involvement, especially in those with pathologically positive inguinal nodes. Surgery appears to be the only curative treatment option in the early stages of the disease. But in most patients, surgery is associated with considerable morbidities and psychosexual issues. Hence, in the quest for a less morbid form of treatment, multimodality approaches with various combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy have been suggested for advanced vulvar cancers. Due to the low incidence of the disease, the level of evidence for the success of these treatment modalities is poor. In countries like India, a heterogeneous incidence of vulvar carcinoma exists across the country, with patients presenting at advanced stages when the option of surgery is often supplemented or replaced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this review, we attempt to study the available published literature and trials and discuss the treatment options in various stages of vulvar carcinoma.

Extramammary Paget disease of the vulva: immunohistochemical analysis of neoangiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers expression

Background

Extra-mammary Paget’s disease of the vulva (EMPDV) is an infrequent chronic disease that often recurs. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of neoangiogenesis and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in EMPDV, and their potential correlation with stromal invasion.

Methods

All the women consecutively treated for EMPDV at our Institute, between January 2011 and December 2014, were studied for neoangiogenesis, analysed by microvessel density (MVD) using antibodies against CD31 and CD34. Immunohistochemical expression of E- / N-cadherin, β-catenin and SLUG was also evaluated. In each slide, three fields with the highest number of capillaries and small venules were identified at low power. In these three fields, the highest vessel density (HVD) and the average vessel density (AVD) at 200× and 400× magnification were counted. Immunohistochemical reactions for non-vascular markers were semiquantitatively scored by two pathologists, using a three-tier scale.

Results

Seventeen cases of EMPDV (including 10 cases of invasive disease) were included. The AVD at 200× and 400× and the HVD at 400× magnification were significantly associated with invasive EMPDV (p = 0.02, 0.03, 0.03 respectively). No significant correlation between MVD, EMT-markers expression and risk of recurrence was detected.

Conclusion

These results indicate that MVD, as a measure of neoangiogenesis, may be associated with histological progression of EMPDV. EMT could also be linked to an invasive potential of EMPDV but larger series are required to confirm this hypothesis.

Invasive Paget Disease of the Vulva

Objective

Extramammary Paget disease of the vulva (EPDV) is a rare occurrence with an indolent and relapsing course. Progression to invasion occurs in 4% to 19% of cases. The aim of this study is to report clinical-pathological features and outcomes of patients treated for invasive EPDV.

Methods

Data of consecutive patients treated between 2000 and 2017 for invasive EPDV were reviewed.

Results

Among 79 patients with EPDV, 10 (12.7%) presented a microinvasive or invasive form at first diagnosis or during follow-up. All of them underwent upfront radical surgery; 7 (70%) received subsequent radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or both. The mortality rate was 40%. The recurrence rate after treatment for invasive forms was 60%, with a mean time to first recurrence of 20 (range, 5–36) months.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that invasive EPDV remains a rare gynecological neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Multicentre trials or well-organized prospective data collection could improve the knowledge about the management of invasive EPDV.

Genital diseases in the mature woman

Vulvovaginal conditions are common in mature women. This reflects age-related changes in immunity and skin barrier function of vulvovaginal tissues. Vaginal atrophy is commonly complicated by dryness and inflammation, which makes postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis a virtually ubiquitous condition. The differential of vaginitis includes inflammatory, infectious, and malignant diseases, plus drug hypersensitivity. Atrophic vaginitis is treated with estrogen replacement therapy. Vulvovaginal malignant melanoma occurs predominantly in postmenopausal women and carries a poor prognosis. Similarly, the incidence of vulvovaginal malignancies, such as squamous cell carcinoma and extramammary Paget disease, rises exponentially after 65 years of age. Early diagnosis of these malignancies is of utmost importance. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and vulvovaginal candidosis are among the most common postmenopausal vulvovaginal conditions. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is associated with significant morbidity, and its management can be challenging. The incidence of vulvovaginal candidosis increases in patients on estrogen replacement therapy.

Red Rashes of the Vulva

Red patches and plaques of the vulva may be manifestations of neoplasms, infections, or inflammatory skin diseases. These diseases can mimic one another clinically; features that generally allow the diseases to be identified on most cutaneous surfaces can be altered in the moist, occluded vulvar environment, making clinical diagnosis difficult. A detailed history and thorough physical examination can point to the likely diagnosis, but biopsy and culture may be needed for diagnosis especially in refractory disease. It is not uncommon for several of these processes to be present concomitantly or complicating other vulvar diseases.

GATA3 is a sensitive marker for primary genital extramammary paget disease: an immunohistochemical study of 72 cases with comparison to gross cystic disease fluid protein 15

Background

GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) has been identified as a sensitive marker for breast carcinoma but its sensitivity in primary genital extramammary Paget diseases (EMPDs) has not been well studied.

Methods

Here we investigated immunohistochemical expression of GATA3 in 72 primary genital EMPDs (35 from female, 37 from male; 45 with intraepithelial disease only, 26 with both intraepithelial disease and invasive adenocarcinoma including 14 also metastasis, 1 with metastatic adenocarcinoma only for study). We also compared GATA3 to gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP15) for their sensitivity.

Results

Positive GATA3 staining was seen in all 71 (100%) intraepithelial diseases, 25/26 (96%; female 10/10, male 15/16) invasive adenocarcinomas and 14/15 (93%; female 3/3, male 11/12) metastatic adenocarcinomas, respectively. Positive GCDFP15 staining was seen in 46/71 (65%; female 28/34 or 82%, male 18/37 or 49%) intraepithelial diseases, 20/26 (77%; female 9/10, male 11/16) invasive adenocarcinomas, and 12/15 (80%; female 2/3, male 10/12) metastatic adenocarcinomas, respectively (GATA3 versus GCDFP15: p < 0.01 for both intraepithelial disease and invasive adenocarcinoma, p = 0.28 for metastatic adenocarcinoma). In positive-stained cases, GATA3 stained more tumor cells than GCDFP15 (79% versus 25% for intraepithelial disease, 71% vs 34% for invasive adenocarcinoma, 73% vs 50% for metastatic adenocarcinoma, p < 0.01 for all 3 components).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that GATA3 is a very sensitive marker for primary genital EMPDs and is more sensitive than GCDFP15.

Vulvar Basal Cell Carcinoma: Four Case Reports With Immunohistochemical Study

Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are the most frequent tumours in humans and normally appear in photoexposed areas of the skin. It is widely accepted that BCCs originate at follicular stem cells and consequently are very rare in nonhairy areas. Here, we report 4 cases of vulvar BCC, 3 of which were located in a vulvar semimucous area, a nonphotoexposed area, and a nonhairy area. We have determined the CK7 and CK19 profile of all cases; both are markers of simple epithelium with glandular differentiation. Interestingly, all cases were positively stained for CK7 and CK19. Considering that the vulvar region is rich in sebaceous and apocrine units, we hypothesise a glandular origin of BCCs situated in the vulvar region.

Cervical metastases originating from a primary rectal adenocarcinoma due to a pagetoid spread

Vulvar Paget disease is a rare skin disorder, considered an in situ adenocarcinoma. It is characterized by intraepithelial Paget cells, of which the origin is unclear. About 75% of cases have a cutaneous origin; the other 25% originate from an intestinal or urological malignancy. We report the first case of retrograde pagetoid spread from a rectal adenocarcinoma to the vulva and cervix. A 66-year-old woman presented with postmenopausal bleeding and a history of Crohn disease. Gynecological workup revealed vulvar and endocervical lesions consisting of Paget cells and adenocarcinoma, respectively. A rectal adenocarcinoma with in situ adenocarcinoma was diagnosed. The surgical specimen demonstrated Paget cells in the squamous epithelium of the anus and vulva. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated an intestinal phenotype of these cells. Genetic testing revealed the same TP53 mutation in tumor cells of the rectal adenocarcinoma and vulvar and endocervical lesions, demonstrating that the Paget cells originated from the same intestinal tumor.

A case of extramammary inguinal Paget disease in a male patient: surgical treatment with an abdominal advancement cutaneous flap

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare neoplasm. The clinical case of a 55-year-old man with a two-year history of a pruritic, painless erythematous skin rash on the inguinal region and scrotum is described. After a delay due to improper diagnosis and improper treatments, the patient came to the attention of the Division of plastic surgery. He underwent a punch biopsy and the pathology report came back as EMPD. Surgical excision was carried out, and an abdominal advancement cutaneous flap was performed for the defect repair. This is the first description of a reconstruction after surgical removal of inguinal EMPD with a flap of this type and we think that this type of treatment can be useful and reliable for disease localization in the groin area, especially for patients that present an excess of abdominal skin.