Treatment of Benign Vulvar Tumor in Germany

Benign vulvar tumors are more common than malignant ones. They usually do not threaten life, but cause discomfort, at least psychologically, and sometimes physically. Tumors grow, cause pain, reduce the quality of sexual life, and often make it impossible. If you are going to remove a benign vulvar neoplasm, you can opt for the treatment in Germany. Your health will be in the safe hands of the best German doctors who are highly reputable in international medical organizations. They perform sparing surgical interventions for tumor removal. These operations are safe and provide a good aesthetic result.

Content

1. What tumors can develop in the vulva
2. Diagnostics
3. Treatment options
4. Why is it better to undergo treatment in Germany

What tumors can develop in the vulva

The following vulvar tumors and tumor-like lesions are distinguished in oncology:

• retention cysts;
• benign tumors;
• benign lesions;
• vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (precedes the development of vulvar cancer);
• vulvar cancer.

In the case of any changes, it is better to see a doctor and undergo a check-up. At the stage of precancerous processes, curing the disease is much easier and faster than it is for vulvar cancer.

At the same time, most benign neoplasms do not lead to oncology development. They are dangerous, as they increase, compress the surrounding tissues, and cause symptoms. The cases of malignancy (the transformation of a benign tumor into vulvar cancer) are rare.

Angiomas are the most common benign tumors. These are not real tumors, but vascular defects that are usually congenital. They consist of arteries, veins, capillaries, and lymphatic vessels. The tumors can grow rapidly and spread to surrounding tissues.

Hemangiomas are the most common among them. Capillary hemangiomas appear as dark red spots with indistinct boundaries. Cavernous hemangioma is a nodule in the depths of the skin with a bluish color that decreases or disappears when pressed with a glass. Inside, such a hemangioma consists of many cells separated by partitions and filled with blood. Some women have spider hemangioma, which looks like a nodule with radially divergent "rays" of the blood vessels.

Vascular tumors can develop from the lymphatic capillaries. Such neoplasms are called lymphangiomas. They mostly develop near the inguinal folds. These are multiple small nodes that merge and do not have clear contours.

Dermatofibroma is a benign neoplasm developing from connective tissue. It most often affects the labia, in the lower third of the vulva. The tumor is movable, has clear boundaries, and is not united together with the surrounding tissues. The neoplasm grows rapidly after its emergence, can reach the size of a chicken egg and even more, but then stops growing and remains stable for many years.

Myoma is a tumor of muscular origin. It is rare and consists of muscle fibers.

Lipoma is a vulvar neoplasm developing from adipose tissue. It most often affects the pubic region, since there is the greatest amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue. The second most common localization is labia majora. In most cases, the disease develops in women over 60 years of age. Lipoma is a soft neoplasm. Palpation reveals a lobed structure. As a rule, this is a painless subcutaneous node, and only the largest lipomas rise above the skin surface. The treatment is not considered mandatory. It is carried out only if the lipoma causes physical discomfort or creates an aesthetic defect.

Myxoma is a mesenchymal benign tumor. It develops in the labia majora.

Fibroepithelial polyp often resembles condyloma. It is an outgrowth on a stalk, wrinkled, with many pigmented growths. It may be complicated by ulceration and inflammation.

Papillary hidradenoma affects the pubis or labia majora. The disease is mostly detected in young women under 20 years old. Since the neoplasm grows from the sweat glands, it never develops in the internal organs of the reproductive system, affecting only the vulva. It looks like multiple nodules a few millimeters in diameter, often symmetrical, pink-yellow, or brown. They never disappear without treatment, so these neoplasms have to be removed with surgical techniques. As in most benign tumors, there are usually no complaints. However, ulceration with bleeding and wound infection may occur.

Diagnostics

The main tasks of diagnostics are to:

• detect the tumor;
• exclude vulvar cancer;
• determine indications for treatment;
• determine the preferred treatment option.

Since the vulva is located outside the body and is accessible for examination, it is not difficult to see the tumor. This area is also aesthetically significant, so women go to the doctor before the tumor reaches a large size and causes complications. In addition, some neoplasms cause discomfort, ulcerate, bleed or become inflamed.

Although each type of tumor is characterized by a certain appearance, density, size, number, etc., doctors cannot accurately exclude a malignant process. The examination, tissue palpation, and instrumental diagnostics make it possible to suggest the type of tumor with a high probability even before the beginning of treatment. It is important since, in the case of the benign tumor, the extent of surgical intervention is much less than in squamous cell carcinoma or other malignant vulvar tumors. While a malignant tumor has to be removed with the capture of a large amount of surrounding healthy tissue, a benign one is resected using very sparing techniques. In addition, lymph node removal surgery is not required for benign tumors.

The following diagnostic methods help the doctor to determine the type of tumor with a high probability and exclude oncology:

• physical examination;
• doppler ultrasonography;
• MRI – in complex diagnostic cases;
• sentinel lymph node biopsy, if the tumor node resembles cancer.

The specialists in Germany work in compliance with international protocols, so women undergo a comprehensive examination. It is usually possible to determine the type of tumor using non-invasive methods, so a biopsy is rarely required. Doctors remove the tumor and then send the surgical material to the laboratory for a histological examination. In conclusion, pathologists establish the final diagnosis, which rarely diverges from the clinical diagnosis.

Treatment options

Benign vulvar tumors can be removed. Indications for surgery are as follows:

• pain or another discomfort;
• complications (inflammatory processes, ulcers, hemorrhages);
• an aesthetic defect that a woman wants to eliminate;
• rapid tumor growth;
• high risk of malignancy.

Surgical excision is a standard technique for tumor removal, which has been used in medicine for decades. In benign vulvar neoplasms, it is reported to less frequently, as new, more sparing, and safe methods of tissue destruction and excision have been developed.

Laser vaporization is suitable for the destruction of small, but multiple neoplasms. They are evaporated with a laser. This procedure has several advantages: the destruction of bacteria in the wound, stimulation of tissue healing, minimal pain and inflammation after surgery, and an instant arrest of bleeding. Complications after laser therapy are very rare. During the entire period of skin recovery, the wound is covered by a scab, thereby protecting it from microbes. But there is a drawback: the possibilities of this technique are limited for large tumors. The neoplasms are destroyed completely, which makes it impossible to conduct a histological examination. The laser is used only if the doctor is sure that there is no cancer.

Radiowave surgery is often used in gynecology for surgical interventions on the external organs of the reproductive system. Doctors use high-frequency electromagnetic waves to dissect tissues, which instantly evaporate the fluid from the cells. At the same time, adjacent cells are not damaged, so there is no burn at the incision site. The vessels are quickly coagulated, which reduces blood loss. The incisions during the surgical intervention are perfectly even and thin, heal quickly and do not lead to the formation of large unaesthetic scars.

Why is it better to undergo treatment in Germany

Many patients with vulvar tumors prefer to undergo treatment in Germany to receive top-class medical services. There are the following reasons for you to come to this country:

• Accurate diagnostics allows doctors to determine the type of tumor and exclude malignant diseases with non-invasive techniques.
• Treatment in compliance with the international protocols.
• Doctors perform sparing surgical removal of benign tumors using laser and radio wave techniques.
• Complete tumor removal, which virtually eliminates the risk of its recurrence.
• Good aesthetic results of the operation. Skin grafting is performed, if required, to close the defects formed after benign tumor removal.
• Minimal risk of complications after surgery.
• Complete preservation of sexual function.
• High-quality care and follow-up monitoring after surgery.

You are welcome to use the international Booking Health service to get up-to-date and accurate information about the cost of treatment in Germany, compare prices in different German hospitals, and book a medical care program at the best price. The treatment in Germany will be easier and faster for you, and the cost of treatment in Germany will be lower.

Please, leave your request on the website of the medical tourism agency Booking Health. Our employees will contact you, provide advice, and answer your questions. We will take care of the arrangements for your trip. We will provide you with the following benefits:

• We will select the oncology department at the German hospital whose doctors specialize in the treatment of benign tumors and all stages of vulvar cancer.
• We will help you overcome the language barrier and establish communication with the doctor at the German hospital.
• The waiting period for the treatment in Germany will be reduced for you and you will receive medical care on the most suitable dates.
• We will reduce the price. The cost of treatment in Germany will be lower due to the lack of overpricing and additional coefficients for foreign patients.
• Our specialists will solve any organizational issues: preparation of documents, transfer from the airport to the German hospital, and back, hotel booking, and interpreting services.
• We will prepare your documents and translate them into English or German. You do not have to undergo previously performed diagnostic procedures.
• We will stay in touch with the German hospital after the completion of your treatment in Germany.
• We will arrange additional treatment in Germany, diagnostics, or rehabilitation if required.
• We will buy medicines in Germany and forward them to your native country.

While the best specialists in the world are taking care of your health, the Booking Health staff will help you reduce the cost of treatment in Germany and take care of all your travel arrangements.

Authors: 

The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!

Sources:

MedicineNet

Sience Direct

Mayo Clinic