What are the different types of vulvar cancer?
The vulva is essentially epithelial skin, and so the main tumor types that affect this area are skin-related cancers. The majority of vulvar cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which typically develop at the edges of the labia majora/ minora or the vagina. As with vaginal squamous cell carcinomas, vulvar squamous cell cancers are slow-growing and usually develop from “precancerous”, pre-invasive areas called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). Melanoma is the second most common type and represents about 5% – 10% of vulvar cases; roughly half involve the labia majora. The most common skin-cancer in sun-exposed areas is basal cell carcinoma, and as expected, this type rarely occurs on the vulva. Adenocarcinomas of the vulva are also rare, but can develop from glands such as the Bartholin’s glands at the vaginal opening.
