TY - JOUR
T1 - Vulvar nevi, melanosis, and melanoma
T2 - An epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathologic review
AU - Murzaku, Era Caterina
AU - Penn, Lauren A.
AU - Hale, Christopher S.
AU - Pomeranz, Miriam Keltz
AU - Polsky, David
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Pigmented vulvar lesions are present in approximately 1 in 10 women and include melanocytic and nonmelanocytic proliferations. Vulvar nevi, melanosis, and melanoma are particularly challenging because of the similarity of their clinical and/or histopathological presentation. As a result, they are often difficult to diagnose, may result in patient and physician anxiety, and can lead to unneeded, potentially disfiguring surgical procedures. Because it is often detected late, vulvar melanoma carries a poor prognosis with associated significant morbidity and mortality, underscoring the importance of prompt recognition and treatment. In this review, we analyze the distinct epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics of vulvar nevi, melanosis, and melanoma, discuss treatment options, and propose a practical, systematic approach to facilitate formulation of a differential diagnosis and initiation of appropriate management.
AB - Pigmented vulvar lesions are present in approximately 1 in 10 women and include melanocytic and nonmelanocytic proliferations. Vulvar nevi, melanosis, and melanoma are particularly challenging because of the similarity of their clinical and/or histopathological presentation. As a result, they are often difficult to diagnose, may result in patient and physician anxiety, and can lead to unneeded, potentially disfiguring surgical procedures. Because it is often detected late, vulvar melanoma carries a poor prognosis with associated significant morbidity and mortality, underscoring the importance of prompt recognition and treatment. In this review, we analyze the distinct epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics of vulvar nevi, melanosis, and melanoma, discuss treatment options, and propose a practical, systematic approach to facilitate formulation of a differential diagnosis and initiation of appropriate management.
KW - dermoscopy
KW - melanocytic nevi
KW - melanoma
KW - melanosis
KW - pigmented lesions
KW - reflectance confocal microscopy
KW - vulvar region
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.08.019
DO - 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.08.019
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25267379
AN - SCOPUS:84925222401
SN - 0190-9622
VL - 71
SP - 1241
EP - 1249
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
IS - 6
ER -