There is insufficient evidence that radiotherapy works as well as surgery for treating groin nodes in early vulvar cancer.

van der Velden J, Fons G, Lawrie TA

Published Online:

May 11, 2011

Cancer of the vulva is mainly a disease of elderly women. Surgery involves removal of the tumour and surrounding lymph nodes, occasionally followed by radiotherapy. Although survival rates are high if the tumour is found early enough, removal of the lymph nodes causes odema (swelling), particularly in the legs. Wound healing and psychosexual problems are also common. While radiotherapy may be effective in the short term, there is not enough evidence from trials to show that it is as effective as surgery in preventing tumour regrowth in the lymph nodes of the groin.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Despite changes in technique, morbidity after surgery for vulvar cancer is high and mainly related to the groin dissection. Primary radiotherapy to the groin is expected to result in lower morbidity. However, studies on the efficacy of primary radiotherapy to the groin in terms of groin recurrences and survival show conflicting results.

Objectives:

To determine whether the effectiveness and safety of primary radiotherapy to the inguinofemoral lymph nodes in early vulvar cancer is comparable with surgery.

Search strategy:

We searched The Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1966 to July 2010.

Selection criteria:

We selected randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing inguinofemoral lymph node dissection and primary radiotherapy of the inguinofemoral lymph nodes for patients with early squamous cell cancer of the vulva.

Data collection and analysis:

Two reviewers independently assessed study quality and extracted results. Primary outcome measures were the incidence of groin recurrences, patient survival and morbidity.

Main results:

No new RCTs were identified by the updated search. Out of twelve identified papers only one met the selection criteria. From this one small RCT of 52 women, there was a trend towards increased groin recurrence rates (relative risk (RR) 10.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59 to 175.78), lower disease-specific survival rates (RR 3.70, 95% CI 0.87 to 15.80), less lymphoedema (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.03) and fewer life-threatening cardiovascular complications (RR 0.08, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.45) in the radiotherapy group. Primary surgery was associated with a longer hospital stay than primary groin irradiation (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.58).

Authors' conclusions:

Primary radiotherapy to the groin results in less morbidity but may be associated with a higher risk of groin recurrence and decreased survival when compared with surgery. Due to the small numbers in this trial and criticisms regarding the depth of radiotherapy applied, corroboration of these findings by larger RCTs using a standardised radiotherapy method, is desirable. However, until better evidence is available, surgery should be considered the first choice treatment for the groin nodes in women with vulvar cancer. Individual patients not physically able to withstand surgery may be treated with primary radiotherapy.

This record should be cited as:

van der Velden J, Fons G, Lawrie TA. Primary groin irradiation versus primary groin surgery for early vulvar cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD002224. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002224.pub2

Assessed as up to date:

April 6, 2011

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Primary Review Group:

Gynaecological Cancer Group

Health topics:

Cancer > Gynaecological > Vagina/vulva

Gynaecology > Cancer > Vagina/vulva

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

There is insufficient evidence that radiotherapy works as well as surgery for treating groin nodes in early vulvar cancer.

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