Search Results (9)

Vulvar and perineal reconstruction represents a significant surgical challenge, particularly in the context of oncological resections, trauma, or postpartum injuries. Vulvar cancer, predominantly squamous cell carcinoma, often necessitates extensive resections, leading to significant tissue defects and high rates of postoperative complications. Reconstructive procedures, encompassing skin grafts and local, regional, and distant flaps, are intended to restore the anatomical structure, protect internal organs, and enhance functional outcomes and quality of life. The selection of technique is contingent upon the dimensions of the defect, its location, the patient’s condition, and the availability of suitable tissue. The management of minor defects can be accomplished through local advancements, while more extensive or complex cases necessitate the utilization of musculocutaneous (e.g., VRAM) or fasciocutaneous (e.g., ALT) flaps. The present article provides a review of surgical methods of vulvar and perineal reconstruction, with a focus on indications, techniques, and potential complications. Full article

Objective: Vulvar cancer surgery is associated with high postoperative wound complication rates. Reconstructive surgery (RS) in vulvar cancer is generally reserved for surgery of extensive tumors or local recurrences. The primary aim of the study is to determine the incidence and risk factors for wound complications after vulvar cancer surgery. As a secondary aim, we compare the effects of primary closure (PC) versus reconstructive surgery on wound complications. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study in four gynecologic oncology centers in the Netherlands, patients undergoing surgical treatment (2018–2022) for vulvar cancer were included. Wound complications after PC and RS and risk factors associated with complications were analyzed by using logistic regression adjusting for confounds. Results: We included 394 women, 318 with PC and 76 with RS. The incidence of wound complications was 46.7%, with 42.4% of wound breakdowns comprising the majority of complications. The use of RS was associated with an increased risk of wound complications. Larger tumor size, proximity to the urethra, resection of the urethra during surgery, and perineal tumor location were additional risk factors for wound complications. However, after multivariate analyses, RS remained the only significant risk factor (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1–1.2). Conclusions: Risk factors for wound complications after vulvar cancer surgery include larger tumor size, proximity to the urethra, resection of the urethra during surgery, and perineal tumor location. RS is also associated with an increased risk of wound complications, probably related to case selection. Full article

Background/Aim: Perineal, pelvic and urogenital reconstruction presents a challenge, not only due to defect size but also due to high morbidity resulting from surgery and post-operative complications. The purpose of this study is to review the surgical approach and evaluate the results regarding pelvic/perineal reconstruction after advanced tumor resection. Patients and Methods: The total number of patients was 34 (11 males, 23 females). The histology varied, including sixteen rectal-anal squamous cell carcinomas, five Buschke-Lowenstein tumors, four vulvar-vaginal carcinomas, four sacral chordomas, two cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, two soft tissue sarcomas and a case of Paget’s disease. Most patients had previously been treated with colectomies and/or gynecological resections and received a full dose of radiotherapy. Reconstruction was performed with the following flaps: oblique/vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (ORAM/VRAM), gracilis myocutaneous flap, inferior gluteal artery perforator flap (IGAP), internal pudendal artery perforator flap (IPAP) and lotus petal flaps. Results: Most patients had a relatively uncomplicated post-operative course. Surgical site infection and wound dehiscence occurred more commonly with the thigh flaps rather than the abdominal flaps. However, the aggression and the frequent recurrences of these tumors had as a result, only 15 out of 34 patients achieved a five-year disease-free survival. Conclusions: Pelvic and perineal defects are usually massive and the use of myocutaneous flaps to eliminate the dead space is of paramount importance. Although these are mainly salvage operations with a low survival rate, they promote patients’ quality of life. A frequent challenge is the simultaneous achievement of tumor radical resection and pelvis functionality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pedicled anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps have proven their versatility through various applications including in different tissue compositions in locoregional reconstructions. However, they are underutilized compared to their free counterparts. Our aim is to systematically review the studies published on the utilization of pedicled ALT flaps in various anatomical regions. Methods: A search was conducted using the PubMed and Embase databases including the terms: (“pedicled” OR “island”) AND (“ALT” OR “anterolateral thigh flap” OR “lateral circumflex femoral” OR “vastus lateralis” OR “rectus femoris”). Outcomes regarding etiology, location, number and composition of flaps, flap and defect size, tunnel of the pedicle, flap viability and complications were collected. Results: A total number of 133 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which the majority were case series. After excluding the case reports (n = 49), studies included in the review were grouped based on anatomical locations such as abdominal (n = 12), groin (n = 12), perineal–vaginal–vulvar (n = 11), penile (n = 15), trochanteric–ischial–sacrogluteal (n = 8) and multiple (n = 19). Among a total of 1227 flaps, there were 46 partial (3.7%) and 16 total losses (1.3%). Conclusions: The pedicled ALT flap has been gaining popularity in the past decade. The overall flap loss rate is relatively low. However, the level of therapeutic evidence of published studies is not high, and there is a large heterogeneity among methods. There is a need in the literature for comparative studies with larger cohorts. Further studies will help to establish guidelines and possible algorithms that could include pedicled ALT flaps as first-line management options in different anatomical locations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Some skin tumors can extend beyond their clinical appearance. This presents an additional challenge, especially when the affected area is the genital region, which is more difficult for both the patient and the physician to access and monitor due to its location and anatomical characteristics. The treatment of these lesions is complex, and literature postulates Mohs surgery as the best therapeutic option. Methods: We describe our experience in two patients with the resection of vulvar lentiginous melanoma and genital extramammary Paget’s disease, using a method of deferred lateral margin control in the surgical treatment. Results: The “spaghetti technique”(ST) initially removing a small strip from all lateral margins of the lesion, which is then closed directly while awaiting the paraffin histological result. In a second stage, the tumors within those margins are removed, and immediate reconstruction is performed. The final oncological and functional result was satisfactory, with no notable side effects. Conclusions: This method is suited for large, poorly defined superficial tumors in the genital, perineal, and perianal regions, where a frozen section study would be slow and burdensome for the patient and surgeon. The ST preserves healthy tissue and can be performed by any surgeon and pathologist without additional training, and is more comfortable for patients, avoiding prolonged open wounds during multiple steps of tumor excision. Full article

Introduction: A Skene’s gland cyst is a rare gynecological disorder, and the cause of an adult onset is largely unknown. However, periurethral and perineal cystic lesions are common, causing often indistinguishable symptoms. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is crucial because it can significantly alter clinical management. Methods: A 27-year-old woman was gravida 2 para 1 with the onset of a unique, progressively large vulvar mass that began at approximately 6 weeks of gestation. At 22 weeks of gestation, the mass became more symptomatic and measured approximately 9 cm × 7 cm × 6 cm in size, with some areas of excoriation on the lateral surface. Results: The patient had a pelvic MRI without contrast, and it showed that the mass was most likely a giant Skene’s gland cyst. At 24 weeks, the mass was surgically removed under spinal anesthesia and followed by vulvar reconstruction. Histopathology showed a benign cyst lined by transitional and squamous epithelium cells, which was consistent with a benign Skene’s gland cyst. She recovered fully, continued with the pregnancy and delivered vaginally at 39 weeks and 3 days without complications. Conclusions: A case of excoriating giant Skene’s gland cyst in pregnancy that caused significant discomfort to the patient. To this day, there has been no reported literature of a Skene’s gland cyst this large, especially during pregnancy. Hence, Skene’s gland cysts should be part of the differential diagnosis of a large vulvar mass of this magnitude during pregnancy. Full article

Background: Vulvar stenosis is a debilitating condition that compromises sexual function, urination, and the ability to undergo gynecological examinations. The purpose of this study is to describe the technique of capillary perforator perineal flaps (CPPF) for the correction of vulvar stenosis. Methods: We retrospectively examined patients with vulvar stenosis treated through surgical separation and reconstruction with CPPF. The procedure involved vulvar separation with the creation of a subsequent defect, repaired using a flap, harvested laterally to the labia majora including a capillary perforator and transferred through a subcutaneous tunnel to repair the vulvar defect. The functional outcome was evaluated with the Bradford scale, comparing the preoperative and postoperative scores using the Student’s t-test. Results: thirteen patients were included, three with stenosis following treatment for vulvar cancer and ten due to lichen sclerosus. In total, we analyzed 29 flaps, with an average size of 15.6 cm². We always included just one perforator in the flap and no postoperative complications. Stenosis was resolved in all patients, with no recurrences one year after the surgery. The preoperative average severity of the stenosis was 2.3 + 0.6, reducing to 0.3 + 0.4 post-intervention, indicating a significant improvement (p < 0.01). Conclusions: CPPF has proven to be a quick and safe method for the reconstruction of vulvar stenosis. Full article

Performing radical surgery for locally advanced vulvar cancer is usually associated with the occurrence of large perineal defects. In order to provide a better healing process of the perineal wound, different reconstructive techniques have been proposed. We present the case of a 63-year-old female patient diagnosed with locally advanced vulvar cancer for which a left hemivulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection was performed. After completion of the resection phase, the reconstruction with gracilis myocutaneous flap was performed. The patient developed a non-union of the flap. However, it slowly healed without any surgical re-intervention. Gracilis myocutaneous flap seems to be an effective and feasible method of perineal reconstruction after extended perineal resection for gynecological malignancies, including vulvar cancer. The method appears effective even in pre-irradiated patients with larger perineal wounds resulting after total pelvic exenteration for locally advanced gynecological malignancies. Full article

Vulvar cancer is a malignant disease having a low frequency and with well-established surgical and oncological treatments based on the stage of the disease. The most important therapeutic problem encountered is represented by cases of perineal local regional recurrence, which are common in patients with large primary tumors and can occur even if the margins of the resection had no tumoral invasion. We present a case study of a 64-year-old patient diagnosed one year ago with squamous vulvar carcinoma (G3) for which a vulvectomy was performed after neoadjuvant radiotherapy. The patient later developed local recurrence with invasion of the anal sphincter, creating a delicate problem regarding a surgical approach. The size and the extent of the recurrent tumor required a complex surgical intervention using a mixed surgical team of general surgeons and plastic surgeons. Surgical intervention with a large excision of the recurrent cancer along with amputation of the inferior rectum via perineal route, and creation of a left iliac anus was performed. The perineal defect was covered via a musculocutaneous flap using the gracilis muscle. The immediate post-operative evolution was favorable. Full article