Two-team simultaneous total radical vulvectomy and inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy via separate incisions for locally advanced (FIGO stages IB ≥ 4 cm-III) squamous vulvar cancer

Aim: To describe the feasibility, safety, and oncological outcomes of a modified triple-incision total radical vulvectomy and inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced squamous vulvar cancer.

Patients and methods: A modified triple-incision technique performed by two surgical teams operating simultaneously under regional anesthesia was performed on a consecutive series of 57 patients with Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie Ostétrique (FIGO) stages IB ≥ 4 cm to III squamous vulvar cancer. Adjuvant radiation therapy was delivered according to margin status and groin involvement. Surgical outcomes and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The mean age of patients was 75.5 ± 10.7 years and 54 (94.7%) had at least one comorbidity. Fifteen (26.3%) had disease of clinical FIGO stage I ≥ 4 cm, 7 (12.3%) had stage II, and 35 (61.4%) had a stage III. All surgical procedures were completed as planned. The mean surgical duration was 108 ± 37 min. Major intraoperative complications were observed in two cases (3.5%). Twenty-one (36.8%) patients received adjuvant radiation therapy. During a mean follow-up of 51.6 ± 50.5 months, 29 (50.9%) patients developed local, regional or distant recurrence. The disease-free survival was 39.5 ± 20.9 months. Nineteen (33.3%) patients died of primary disease. Overall survival for the entire cohort was 65.4%, with 3-year and 5-year overall survival of 60.5% and 48.6%, respectively.

Conclusion: Our results seem to reveal that the procedure is safe, with surgical and oncological outcomes comparable to classic sequential triple-incision technique. The shortening of surgical duration along with the use of regional anesthesia can have significant advantages for perioperative care, reducing the global burden of treatment and increasing the number of patients eligible for therapeutic surgery.