Proximal Partial Vaginectomy for Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of proximal partial vaginectomy for the treatment of VaIN.

Descriptive.

Between May 2009 and December 2017, 20 patients were identified who underwent partial vaginectomy for VaIN. The electronic medical records were reviewed and information collated.

A circular incision in mid-vagina, was taken for all these patients and the upper vagina was closed over a gauze pack. The proximal vagina was then excised with the gauze inside.

None of the patients had previously been treated for VaIN. The diagnosis was made on cytology/biopsy. Twelve of the 13 patients who were tested, were positive for high-risk HPV DNA, while one was negative. Thirteen (65%) had previous gynaecological surgery for cervical neoplasia (invasive cancer 6 and CIN 7) and the remaining 7 for apparent benign disease. There was one patient who went on to have a cone biopsy, and one had a modified radical hysterectomy at the same sitting. None of the patients had post-operative complications. Median hospital stay was 3 days (range 2–9). Follow-up (median 7 months, range 0–60) was available in 19 patients out of whom five had abnormal cytology, five were HPV DNA positive, and three had recurrent VaIN on follow-up biopsy and had re-excision for recurrence. One patient had vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN 3) and underwent excision. Another had CIN 3 and underwent excision of cervical stump.

Vaginectomy appears to be a safe and efficacious procedure for treatment of VaIN. Patients have to be followed up with cytology, HPV testing, and biopsy to exclude vagina recurrence and HPV-related lesion at another site.