[Vulvar melanoma].

OBJECTIVE

Malignant melanoma of the vulva is the second commonest vulval malignancy. This article will focus on three cases of vulvar melanoma which have been solved surgically with wide excision, sentinel lymph node biopsy and radical lymphadenectomy.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Department of Dermatovenerology 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Prague.

METHODS

Biopsy of the lesion creates a reliable diagnostic procedure. More frequently digital dermoscopy is used for the precise primary diagnostics and follow-up of pigment vulvar lesions.

RESULTS

Vulvar melanoma has been variously estimated to account for between 3.6 and 10% of malignant vulvar neoplasms. An epidemiologic study revealed ratio of vulvar to skin melanoma 1:71.

CONCLUSION

New diagnostic methods such as digital dermoscopy or sentinel node biopsy bringing ever greater progress in precise diagnosis of patients with vulvar melanoma.