Patients with primary vulvar squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) require continuous care. The diagnostic procedures and treatment modalities have to be relevant from the early stages. Otherwise, the tumor grows in size and leads to more complex disorders. This study assesses the role of chest imaging in measuring the incidences of pulmonary metastases.
A cohort study was designed for a tertiary referral center. A total of 452 patients who got treated for primary vulvar SCC between 2000 to 2018 were the subjects. The team documented Their pre-operative chest images with a two year minimal follow-up period. The mean outcomes of radiography and computerized tomography(CT) were measured and compared. Researchers took the frequency of chest imaging, pulmonary metastases incidences, and later coincidental findings into account.
The study preoperatively did chest imaging on a total of 80.8% of patients. Pulmonary metastases were observed in 7 patients or 1.9%, with a median tumor size of 80 mm. None of the patients in the early-stage with a tumor size less than 40 mm had metastasis. They already underwent radical local excision and sentinel node procedures. About 58.9% had radiography, while 41.1% underwent CT. The coincidental findings in CT and radiography patients were 40.7% and 15.8%. Their additional diagnostics were 14.7% and 19.7%, while the limited consequence outcomes were 2.9% and 3.3%.
Pulmonary metastases in the patients are very low. It is zero if they undergo SN procedure at an early stage. Chest imaging findings led to irrelevant diagnostics and should be omitted if tumor size was < 40 mm.
Ref: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.16636
