[Vulvar Crohn disease: 3 cases].

BACKGROUND

Vulvar involvement in Crohn's disease is uncommon. The elementary lesion is usually an ulceration: 44 cases have been reported in the literature. In 20 p. 100 of the cases, vulvar involvement is the only manifestation of the disease. We report 3 new cases of vulvar lesions in Crohn's disease.

CASE REPORTS

The first case had vulvar lesions which complicated ileocolic Crohn's disease, in the other two cases there were no digestive manifestations. One patient developed voluminous edema of the right labium. The diagnosis of Crohn's disease of the vulva was suggested by the characteristic lesions, presence of epithelioid and giant cell granuloma at histology examination of the vulva specimen and finally on rapidly favorable course after treatment with sulfasalazine. The ulcers regressed with medical treatment but remission was temporary with recurrence at treatment withdrawal.

DISCUSSION

These cases underline the difficulties encountered in establishing the diagnosis of Crohn's disease in patients who develop vulvar ulcerations alone with no signs of digestive disease and emphasize the difficult problem of long-term control.