Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia III: a clinical study of the outcome in 113 cases with relation to the later development of invasive vulvar carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the outcome of 113 women with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), particularly in reference to the later development of invasive vulvar carcinoma.

METHODS

All cases of VIN III seen between 1961 and 1993 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Seven of eight untreated cases of VIN III progressed to invasive vulvar cancer within 8 years, and the eighth regressed spontaneously. Four women developed invasive vulvar carcinoma 7-18 years after treatment. Thus, 3.8% of treated patients later developed invasive vulvar carcinoma, and 87.5% of untreated patients progressed to invasive carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

There is a substantial risk that untreated VIN III will progress to invasive cancer.