Vulvar disease explained

A vulvar disease is a particular abnormal, pathological condition that affects part or all of the vulva. Several pathologies are defined. Some can be prevented by vulvovaginal health maintenance.

Vulvar cancer

See main article: Vulvar cancer. Vulvar cancer accounts for about 5% of all gynecological cancers and typically affects women in later life. Five-year survival rates in the United States are around 70%.^[1]

Symptoms of vulvar cancer include itching, a lump or sore on the vulva which does not heal and/or grows larger, and sometimes discomfort/pain/swelling in the vulval area. Treatments include vulvectomy – removal of all or part of the vulva.

Vulvo-perineal localization of dermatologic disorders

Systemic disorders may be localized in the vulvo-perineal region.^[2]

In Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lesions initially are erythematous, purpuric papules and they then become scaly, crusted and sometimes confluent.
In Kawasaki disease, an erythematous, desquamating perineal rash may occur in the second week of symptom onset, almost at the same time as palmoplantar desquamation.
Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a biochemical disorder of zinc metabolism.
Diaper dermatitis in infancy^[3]

Blemishes and cysts

Epidermal cysts
Angiomas
Moles
Freckles
Lentigos
Scars
Scarification
Vitiligo
Tattoos
Hypertrophy
Sinus pudoris
Bartholin's cyst
Skene's duct cyst, a paraurethral cyst

Infections

Candidiasis (thrush)
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
Genital warts, due to human papilloma virus (HPV)
Molluscum contagiosum
Herpes simplex (genital herpes)
Herpes zoster (shingles)
Tinea cruris (fungus)
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Infestations with pinworms (rare), scabies and lice.^[4]

Inflammatory diseases

Eczema/Dermatitis
Lichen simplex (chronic eczema)
Psoriasis
Lichen sclerosus
Lichen planus
Zoon's vulvitis (Zoon's balanitis in men)
Pemphigus vulgaris
Pemphigoid (mucous membrane pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, bullous pemphigoid)

Pain syndromes

Vulvodynia and vulvar vestibulitis
Vaginismus

Ulcers

Developmental disorders

Septate vagina
Vaginal opening extremely close to the urethra or anus
An imperforate hymen
Various stages of genital masculinization including fused labia, an absent or partially formed vagina, urethra located on the clitoris.
Intersex

Tumoral and hamartomatous diseases

Hemangiomas and vascular dysplasia may involve the perineal region
Infantile perianal pyramidal protrusion^[5]

Other

Vulvar lymphangioma
Paget's disease of the vulva
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
Bowen's disease
Bowenoid papulosis
Vulvar varicose veins
Labial adhesions
Perineodynia (perineal pain)
Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV)
Childbirth tears and episiotomy related changes
Vestibulodynia

Notes and References

Web site: SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Vulvar Cancer. NCI. 18 June 2014. 16 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190716023128/https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/vulva.html. live.
Web site: Dominique Hamel-Teillac sara catanzaro. Vulvo-Perineal Localization of Dermatologic Disorders, 2005.. Health.am. 2005. 2014-09-26. 2016-04-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20160403104043/http://www.health.am/gyneco/more/vulvo-perineal-localization-of-dermatologic-disorders/. live.
Web site: Dominique Hamel-Teillac . Diaper Dermatitis in Infancy, 2005. . Health.am . 2005 . 2014-09-26 . 2019-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190513044241/http://www.health.am/gyneco/more/diaper-dermatitis-in-infancy/ . live .
Web site: Dominique Hamel-Teillac . Infectious Diseases (Except Sexually Transmitted Diseases) . Health.am . 2005 . 2014-09-26 . 2016-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160402100828/http://www.health.am/gyneco/more/infectious-diseases-except-sexually-transmitted-diseases/ . live .
Web site: Dominique Hamel-Teillac . Tumoral and Hamartomatous Diseases of the Vulva, 2005. . Health.am . 2005 . 2014-09-26 . 2016-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160403103839/http://www.health.am/gyneco/more/tumoral-and-hamartomatous-diseases-of-the-vulva/ . live .