Vulvar Squamous-Cell Carcinoma

This case report describes a 45-year-old woman with a persistent, painful vulvar lesion initially misdiagnosed as candidiasis. Examination revealed a 2 cm × 4 cm firm lesion on the labia majora and a smaller anterior lesion. Biopsy confirmed HPV-associated invasive vulvar squamous-cell carcinoma, while the anterior lesion was a high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. The patient underwent radical hemivulvectomy and adjuvant radiation therapy for nodal involvement, remaining disease-free at 2 year follow up. The case highlights the importance of considering malignancy in refractory vulvar lesions, particularly in smokers, and underscores the role of HPV in vulvar carcinogenesis.

This case report describes a 45-year-old woman with a persistent, painful vulvar lesion initially misdiagnosed as candidiasis. Examination revealed a 2 cm × 4 cm firm lesion on the labia majora and a smaller anterior lesion. Biopsy confirmed HPV-associated invasive vulvar squamous-cell carcinoma, while the anterior lesion was a high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. The patient underwent radical hemivulvectomy and adjuvant radiation therapy for nodal involvement, remaining disease-free at 2 year follow up. The case highlights the importance of considering malignancy in refractory vulvar lesions, particularly in smokers, and underscores the role of HPV in vulvar carcinogenesis.