Extracapsular growth of lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. The impact on recurrence and survival

Abstract

Extracapsular growth of lymph node metastases in the groin is the most important predictor for poor survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Because of the predominant distant failure pattern in a subgroup of patients who have a combination of extranodal spread, multiple positive lymph nodes, and lymph nodes replaced by tumor greater than 50%, a future study of the effectiveness of systemic therapy for vulvar cancer must include these patients.