The under-reporting of skin disease in association with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Histology sections from 61 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva presenting after 1988 were reviewed for evidence of associated epithelial abnormality. Of the 50 patients with epithelium adjacent to the tumour, 24 had histological evidence of lichen sclerosus (LS), 20 of severe vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN 3), 22 of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and three of lichen planus (LP). The clinical records and the original histology report were also subsequently reviewed and with the exception of VIN 3, these disorders were poorly reported by both clinicians and pathologists.