Progressive histobiologic alterations in the development of vulvar cancer.

Identification of the patient at risk for the development of cancer and the precursory histopathologic changes has led to improvement in 5-year survivals among patients with cancer of the cervix and endometrium. In conrast, there has been controversy as to these factors in discussions of vulvar neoplasia. This report of five cases of patients who developed invasive cancer after treatment for in situ disease attempts to define some of the at-risk factors, including the specific area at which three of the five malignancies subsequently developed.