Impact of improving outcome guidance in gynaecological cancer on squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva in the West Midlands, UK

This study aimed to assess the benefits and outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva managed in a cancer centre post-centralisation of cancer care in the UK. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the demography and management outcomes of SCC of the vulva in a regional gynaecological cancer centre. The results were then compared with the Rhodes et al. (1998) population-based study. Over the years, disease demography remained largely unchanged. However, centralisation of cancer care has resulted in significant changes in the pattern of care. The number of cases managed has increased by 1.7 times and the permutation of surgeries have reduced from 15 to 4. There is also a significant increased in the number of lymphadenectomies performed (p = 0.003). These changes were accompanied by improvement in 5-year cause-specific survival (p = 0.055).