VULVA CARCINOMA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL (UBTH); A TEN-YEAR REVIEW

Vulvar carcinoma is not a common gynaecological cancer seen in UBTH. It has never been reviewed in detail. This is a 10 year retrospective review of vulva carcinoma in UBTH to study the incidence, socio-demographic characteristics and management modalities used in vulva carcinoma in UBTH. Case notes, ward registers and histopathology logbooks were used in collecting data.12808 gynaecological cases were admitted in UBTH in the ten years reviewed. 494 were patients with gynaecological malignancies. Of these 28 (5.7%) had confirmed histological diagnosis of vulva cancer which was the 4th most common gynaecological cancer after cervical (62.5%), ovarian (17.0%) and endometrial cancers (6.8%). Vulva cancer was more common in the 6th and 7th decades (51-60 years, 36%, 61-70 years, 28.6%). 78.9% of vulva cancers were first diagnosed after the age of 50, a percentage higher than for any other genital malignancy. The highest educational attainment of patients' diagnosed with vulva cancer were primary 64.3%, secondary/diploma 28.6% and university education in 7.1%. Surgical treatment modalities employed were hemivulvectomy, excision biopsy and wide local excision. 35.7% were in-operable and only a biopsy for histological diagnosis could be collected. 57.1% of the patients had chemotherapy while 3 patients (10.7%) had radiotherapy.Vulvar cancer patients tend to present late for diagnosis and management in UBTH. Poor educational and socioeconomic background likely influenced late presentation of patients. Good public enlightenment about cancers in general and Vulvar cancer in particular could influence early presentation positively.