These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: The outcome after cryosurgery and intralesional steroid injection in vulvar lichen sclerosus corresponds to preoperative histopathological findings.
    Author: Stücker M, Grape J, Bechara FG, Hoffmann K, Altmeyer P.
    Journal: Dermatology; 2005; 210(3):218-22. PubMed ID: 15785050.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) still presents a therapeutic challenge. QUESTIONS: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between preoperative histopathological findings in female LS and long-term results after cryosurgery and intralesional steroid injections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 22 females with LS, mean age 65.3 +/- 10.5 years, were treated with cryosurgery (-186 degrees C) using the contact method with 1 freeze-thaw cycle per lesion and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection. The time between surgery and follow-up examination was 27.8 +/- 14.6 months. We compared the clinical outcome and the thickness of the epidermis, the zone of sclerosis and the inflammatory infiltrate in biopsy specimens taken before treatment. RESULTS: In 14 of 22 patients, a relapse after cryosurgery occurred (median after 7.5 months). Patients would 'moderately' recommend cryosurgery for LS (2.2 +/- 0.9; minimum: 0, optimum: 4). Pruritus was significantly reduced (visual analog scale: preoperative 7.1 +/- 2.6 vs. postoperative 2.0 +/- 2.4; p = 0.001) even in patients with relapse (preoperative 7.6 +/- 2.4 vs. postoperative 3.1 +/- 2.28; p = 0.001). Women with relapse showed a significantly higher composed thickness of epidermis, sclerosis and inflammatory infiltrate (430 +/- 139.0 microm) than those without relapse (314 +/- 41.2 microm; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: In our patients, cryosurgery and intralesional steroid injections were efficient in the treatment of LS. Patients showing relapse had a thicker epidermis and a stronger inflammatory infiltrate. Therefore a treatment of LS should be performed at an early stage of the disease.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]