Late-stage vulvar cancer can spread to where?

Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Patients with vulvar cancer generally have lymphatic metastasis because there are many lymphatic vessels in the perineum, and the capillaries of the lymphatic system are interconnected. Thus, vulvar cancer can lead to bilateral lymphatic vessel spread. Initially, it leads to superficial inguinal lymph nodes, then it spreads to the bone lymph nodes below the groin, and eventually progresses to the lymph nodes alongside the aorta and the lymph nodes below the left clavicle. If the cancer is located in the clitoris, it may bypass the superficial inguinal lymph nodes and directly spread to the lymph nodes inside the pelvis. The tumor in the vulvar area will gradually increase in size; it generally does not invade the muscle fascia or adjacent structures. If the vagina is invaded, it can easily and immediately involve the levator ani muscles, rectum, urethral opening, and bladder, among others.

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Can vulvar cancer be detected by B-ultrasound?

Vulvar cancer, due to its superficial location, does not require an ultrasound for detection. Vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor of the vulva, with primary squamous epithelium being the most common type. The main clinical manifestations are vulvar nodules, often accompanied by pain and significant itching. Local necrosis or infection can occur, and the lesions of vulvar cancer can be directly observed with the naked eye. However, ultrasound examination is also widely used in vulvar cancer, not for detecting the cancer itself, but for examining whether there is enlargement of the lymph nodes in the groin, abdomen, and pelvic regions, suspecting invasion by cancer cells.

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What will happen when vulvar cancer becomes severe?

Vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor of the female reproductive system. When vulvar cancer becomes severe, the lesions metastasize to many areas, which can cause serious clinical symptoms, severely affect the patient's quality of life, and even endanger the patient's life. For example, if vulvar cancer metastasizes to the inguinal lymph nodes, pain can occur in the area of the metastases. Additionally, mobility of the limb on the side of the metastases is limited, and swelling of the lower limb occurs. If the patient's lesions metastasize to the lungs through the hematogenous route, clinically the patient may experience coughing, expectoration, chest tightness, chest pain, and even some patients may have respiratory failure, which severely threatens their life. Some patients have bone metastases, and besides pain in the area of the bone metastases, some patients also experience pathological fractures, limited mobility, and significant pain.

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Vulvar cancer lymph node metastasis is stage III.

Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in the female reproductive system, commonly occurring in postmenopausal elderly women. The disease progresses to involve lymph node metastasis, and its clinical staging is either stage III or stage IV. If the disease spreads to the inguinal lymph nodes with no other site affected, then the clinical stage is considered stage III. If the vulvar cancer metastasizes to the pelvic lymph nodes, or distant locations such as the liver, lungs, or bones, then it is classified as stage IV. For cases of stage III and IV vulvar cancer, the main treatment methods are palliative surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The treatment strategy primarily involves a combination of surgery and radiation therapy along with chemotherapy. For patients with stage III and IV vulvar cancer, the prognosis is generally poor.

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Will the vulvar cancer be rotten in the late stage?

Patients with advanced vulvar cancer do not all show signs of internal ulceration. This is because, for most patients with vulvar cancer, the progression of the disease can lead to invasion of the surrounding tissues or distant metastasis. Some patients may experience heavy local infiltration, leading to tissue ulceration. However, most patients in the advanced stages primarily show symptoms related to lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis. When patients with advanced vulvar cancer develop lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, they may experience symptoms of metastatic lesions, such as inguinal lymph node metastasis causing limb swelling and pain. If there are distant metastases to the lungs, liver, or other areas, patients may exhibit respiratory symptoms such as coughing and expectoration, or liver-related symptoms such as pain in the liver area or decreased appetite.

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Does vulvar cancer ulceration infect family members?

Vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor of the female reproductive system with a low incidence rate clinically. Many patients with vulvar cancer experience ulcerations in their lesions. Even when ulceration occurs in vulvar cancer lesions, it is not contagious to family members because vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor and does not possess contagiousness. The occurrence of infectious diseases necessarily requires three core elements: a source of infection, a transmission route, and a susceptible population. The formation of an infection without these three elements is impossible. When ulceration occurs in vulvar cancer lesions, it is due to the tumor lesion and is non-contagious; however, it is prone to concurrent infections, causing clinical symptoms such as fever, localized pain, and bleeding, which greatly afflict the patients. In cases of ulceration in vulvar cancer, besides controlling the infection and managing local symptoms, it is also necessary to provide aggressive anti-tumor treatment.