Pelvic node dissection in the treatment of vulval carcinoma--is it necessary?

A report is given of 160 patients with vulval carcinoma who were managed by one Oncologist (J.M.M.) in a regional gynaecological oncology department. Prognosis was closely related to nodal metastases which were in turn related to tumour size and degree of differentiation. These factors may be a guide to the need to carry out pelvic node dissection during radical surgical treatment. The place of radical surgery is emphasized and the need for postoperative staging suggested.