Case Report - Vulvar Carcinoma arising from Condyloma Accuminatum in a HIV-positive Patient: A Rare Case

Abstract

Vulvar Carcinoma is a rare cancer accounting for only 4% of all gynecologic malignancies. It is said to be common in the older age group. We present a case of a 23 year old HIV-positive lady on ART, who had been diagnosed as having condyloma acuminatum, later presenting with a massive ulcerated vulvar mass diagnosed as vulvar carcinoma. Risk factors include human papilloma virus infection, human immunodeficiency virus infection, low socioeconomic status, multiple sexual partners and smoking. HIV in this patient is a major predisposing factor to carcinogenesis and accounts for the rapidity of growth of the lesion. The histologic type is squamous cell carcinoma which is the commonest histologic type in most literatures and response to radiotherapy was good after surgery. This study shows that late presentation is a typical occurrence in our environment due to ignorance, poverty and proliferation of cheaper and easily accessible non orthodox (traditional) medical practitioners. Early histology, surgery and radiotherapy are usually the mainstay of management of this lesion.