[Vulvar Paget's disease. Clinico-pathologic review of the literature]

In 1986 the International Society For the Study of Vulvar Disease classified vulvar Paget's disease (VPD) as a non-squamous intraepithelial lesion of the vulva. The clinical multiform aspect of VPD, similar to other dermatological lesions, often delays the execution of a biopsy. Paget's cells could be instead easily identified at histological examination and with histochemical reactions. Underlying adenocarcinomas or stromal invasion are present in about 10% of intraepithelial VPD. Patients with VPD are at risk for a second synchronous or metachronous neoplasia: colo-rectal adenocarcinoma (more frequent in perianal localization of VPD), cervical adenocarcinoma, carcinoma of the transitional epithelium from the renal pelvis to urethra and mammary carcinoma. A wide spectrum of frequency of these associations is reported in the literature (0-45%). Therapy for intraepithelial VPD is wide and deep surgical resection comprising all the skin appendages. However VPD has a high frequency of recurrences (15-62%), often irrespective for radicality of surgical excision. When association with underlying invasive adenocarcinoma or stromal invasion is histologically confirmed, vulvar surgical approach must be integrated with inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy. The role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the multimodal approach to extensive or recurring VPD is still controversial. Recurrences or progression of intraepithelal VPD are reported more than 10 years from first surgical resection so that long term follow-up is mandatory.