Lymphomas

Abstract

Although lymphomas with first manifestation in the vulva have been reported, vulval lymphomas primary or secondary are, indeed, rare (also see Part II on the vagina). Buckingham and McLure (1955) reported in a 33-year-old patient a rapidly growing labial mass which had been causing interference with walking and intercourse. The tumour (12 × 7 × 5 cm) was removed and found to consist of non-epithelial moderately pleomorphic cells with scanty cytoplasm, round to oval vaskular nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Reticulin stains showed branched retic-ulin fibres in intimate association with malignant cells. The tumour was vascular and contained scattered areas of necrosis. It was diagnosed to be a reticulum cell sarcoma. A lymphoma reported by Taussig (1937) was an ulcerated, firm, nodular, 2-cm clitoral mass in a 63-year-old woman. It was composed of dense aggregates of round cells with sparse pale cytoplasm, slightly irregular cell outlines, well-defined nuclear membranes and nucleoli. The femoral node of the patient showed similar features.