Incidence, Survival, and Symptomatology of Recurrence in Vulvar Cancer: Insights from Population-Based Cohort Studies and Contemporary Evidence

Highlights

• Vulvar cancer recurrence is common, with a 35% cumulative incidence of first recurrence at 10 years, predominantly isolated local recurrences.
• Overall survival declines markedly after first and second recurrences, but remains relatively higher following isolated local recurrences.
• Symptom awareness is critical; predefined symptoms such as itching and pain precede the majority of recurrences and vary by recurrence location.
• Surgery significantly improves survival even in locally advanced vulvar cancer, with sentinel lymph node biopsy feasibility established for large tumors despite higher recurrence in certain subgroups.

Background