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Vulvar-Vaginal Cancer
High Incidence of Erysipelas After Surgical Treatment for Vulvar Carcinoma: An Observational Study
  1. Maria E.J. Leermakers, MD*,†,
  2. Noortje Pleunis, MD*,†,
  3. Dorry Boll, MD, PhD*,§,
  4. Ralph H. Hermans, MD, PhD§∥,
  5. Nicole P.M. Ezendam, PhD§, and
  6. Johanna M.A. Pijnenborg, MD, PhD*,§
  1. *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg;
  2. †Department of Obstetrics, University Medical Center, Utrecht;
  3. ‡Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen;
  4. §Comprehensive Cancer Centre South, Eindhoven;
  5. ∥Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven; and
  6. Department of Epidemiology/Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Johanna MA. Pijnenborg, MD, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PO Box 90107, 5000 LA Tilburg, The Netherlands. E-mail: H.Pijnenborg@planet.nl.

Abstract

Objectives Vulvar carcinoma is mainly treated surgically and has an overall good prognosis. Despite the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures in recent years, morbidity remains significant. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of erysipelas after surgical treatment for vulvar carcinoma.

Methods This retrospective observational study was performed within the Comprehensive Cancer Centre South. The study included patients (N = 116) who underwent surgery for primary vulvar carcinoma between 2005 and 2012. Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA and IV were excluded. Clinical and histopathological data were analyzed using logistic regression, χ2 tests, Fisher exact tests, independent t tests, and nonparametric tests. Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative erysipelas and determination of risk factors for erysipelas. Secondary outcome included other comorbidities.

Results A total of 23 patients (20%) with vulvar carcinoma had 1 or more episodes of erysipelas. The risk of developing erysipelas was significantly higher in patients who underwent lymph node dissection than in those who underwent sentinel node biopsy (36% [n = 12] and 14% [n = 11], respectively, P = 0.008) and in patients with lymphedema than in those without (30% [n = 7] and 12% [n = 11], respectively, P = 0.048). Patients with diabetes tended to have a higher incidence of erysipelas than those without (28% vs 18%, P = 0.27).

Conclusions Erysipelas occurs frequently in patients who undergo surgical treatment for vulvar carcinoma. The risk of erysipelas is 3 times higher in patients who undergo lymph node dissection and in those with lymphedema than in those without, and it tends to be high in patients with diabetes.

  • Vulvar carcinoma
  • Erysipelas
  • Wound infection
  • Postoperative complications

https://doi.org/10.1097/IGC.0000000000000625

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    Footnotes

    • The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

    • This work was presented as a poster in the proceedings of the 18th International Meeting of the European Society of Gynecologic Oncology, October 19-22, 2013, Liverpool, United Kingdom, e-poster, p 201.