journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/poamed Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Original Research Article Evaluation of the impact of individual and environmental factors on the prognosis of women with vulvar cancer Janina Lipin ´ ska a,b,n , Marek Stefanowicz a,b , Tomasz Was ´ niewski a,b , Krzysztof Lukaszuk a a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland INVICTA Fertility and Reproductive Center, Gdansk, Poland b Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology, Provincial Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland article info Article history: Received 17 June 2013 Received in revised form 6 August 2013 Accepted 12 September 2013 Available online 17 September 2013 Keywords: SCC of the vulva Wound healing Infection of wound Recurrence Menopause abstract Introduction: Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer. In Poland in 2010 there were 491 cases of vulvar cancer. Prognostic factors that may influence the course of the disease and results of treatment can be divided into factors associated with tumor, individual factors of the patient (age, socioeconomic status, co-morbidities, body weight, motivation to comply) and environmental factors. Aim: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of individual and environ- mental factors on the prognosis of women with vulvar cancer, regardless of the clinical stage. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 48 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva treated surgically in the Department of Gynecological Oncology in Olsztyn in 1995–2008. Analysis included age, place of living, occupational status, marital status, obstetric history, co-morbidities, body weight, and healing of post-operative wound. Univariate analysis of the effect of these factors on survival and recurrence rates was performed. Results and discussion: Univariate analysis showed a relationship between impaired post- operative wound healing and recurrence rate (po.05). Wound healing complicated by abscess formation occurred most frequently in patients with T2 stage tumor and did not correlate with lymph node involvement. No effect of age, body weight, age at menarche and age at menopause, and number of births on the presence or absence of recurrence was observed (po.05). Conclusions: In patients with post-operative wound healing complications due to infection statistically significant worse survival rates have been observed. Vulvar cancer was repeat- edly diagnosed 22 years after menopause, in its advanced stages (according to FIGO 1988). No correlation between survival rate and demographic factors, environmental factors, gyneco- logical and obstetric history and co-morbidities was demonstrated. Difference between 1230-8013/$ – see front matter & 2013 Warmiń sko-Mazurska Izba Lekarska w Olsztynie. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poamed.2013.09.004 n Correspondence to: Department of Gynecology, Gynecological Endocrinology, Gynecological Oncology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Z ˙ olnierska 18, 10-516 Olsztyn, Poland. Tel.: þ4889 538 64 83. E-mail address: lipinskajoan@yahoo.com (J. Lipin ´ ska). polish annalsof medicine 20 (2013)110–116