Forschung der Gynäkologie

Dirk Michael Forner and Luisa Carlotta Mack (2023)

Depending on the genesis and presence of HPV, vulvar carcinomas develop into two different morphological types. These are keratinising (kSCC; ICD 8071) and non-keratinising squamous cell carcinomas (nkSCC; ICD 8072). The present study uses cancer registry data from Germany over 10 years to investigate whether the morphological presentation by itself can predict prognosis. The study included a total of 13111 datasets from the years 2004 – 2014, 11807 (89.9%) had a kSCC and 1312 (10.0%) an nkSCC. Although G3 tumours were more common in nkSCC (33.8%) than in kSCC (17.6% P < 0.05) median overall survival was slightly worse for kSCC (101 months) than for nkSCC (109 months), and five year overall survival was 61 and 68%, respectively (log-rank p < 0.01). Morphologic typing of keratinizing versus non-keratinizing carcinomas allows the prediction of a better prognosis for the non-keratinizing malignancies. However, compared to molecular markers P16 and P3 and 50, the distinction appears less accurate. Nevertheless, this morphological classification can be of help when molecular markers are not available.

Abbreviations: SCC: Squamous Cell Carcinoma; VIN: Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia; OS: Survival Were