Surgery of the vulva in vulvar cancer

The standard radical mutilating surgery for the treatment of invasive vulval carcinoma is, today, being replaced by a conservative and individualised approach. Surgical conservative modifications that are currently considered safe, regarding vulval lesion, are separate skin vulval-groin incisions, drawn according to the lesion diameter, and wide local radical excision or partial radical vulvectomy with 1-2 cm of clinically clear surgical margins. Regarding inguinofemoral lymph nodes management, surgical conservative modifications not compromising patient survival are omission of groin lymphadenectomy only when tumour stromal invasion is ≤1 mm, unilateral groin lymphadenectomy only in well-lateralised early lesions and total or radical inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy with preservation of femoral fascia when full groin resection is needed. Sentinel lymph node dissection is a promising technique but it should not be routinely employed outside referral centres. Pelvic nodes are better managed by radiation. Locally advanced vulval carcinoma can be managed by ultraradical surgery, exclusive radiotherapy or chemoradiation.