Trends in vulvar neoplasia. Increasing incidence of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva in young women

Abstract

Objective: To determine trends in the epidemiology of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva in a Central European sample during the last decade.

Study design: A total of 366 women with VIN 2 and 3 (n = 128) or vulvar SCC (n = 238) presented within two four-year periods separated by one decade (1985-1988 and 1994-1997). We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinicopathologic records of the cohorts.

Results: The number of women with high grade VIN (n = 29 vs. 99) tripled during the last decade, while the incidence of vulvar SCC remained stable. In women < or = 50 years old, the incidence of high grade VIN increased by 392% (n = 12 vs. 59) and of invasive vulvar cancer by 157% (n = 7 vs. 18). In the earlier cohort there were 7/126 (5%) women with invasive vulvar SCC under the age of 50 and, in the latter cohort, 18/112 (16%, P < .01).

Conclusion: Over the past decade a striking increase occurred in the incidence of VIN and an increase in invasive vulvar SCC in young women.