Benign and malignant pigmented lesions of the female genital tract (FGT). Report of 15 cases.

Abstract

Introduction: Benign and malignant pigmented lesions (PL) of the FGT are uncommon, predominantly affecting the vulva. Methods: We report the clinical and pathological features of the 15 PL of the FGT retrieved in a 12-year, retrospective analysis at our Department. Patient records and archival pathology specimens of 7 benign and 8 malignant PL of the FGT, were reviewed. Results: The mean age of all patients was 47 (range, 28-67). Three patients had vulvar nevi (2 intradermal and 1 dysplastic), while blue nevi ranging 2-10 mm in diameter were accidentally discovered in the endocervix of the hysterectomy specimens in four other patients. Vulvar primary malignant melanomas (PMMs) were uncommon (4 cases), comprising 2.5% of female PMMs and 4.3% of all vulvar malignancies diagnosed between 1989 and 2000. Contrary to other studies, all vulvar PMM in our series were of nodular type, ranging 3-13 mm in depth according to Breslow and III-IV level according to Clark. Within the same period, two patients with malignant PL of the uterine cervix were detected, accounting for 0.13% of all females with malignant cervical neoplasms. One of them had a PMM diagnosed in advanced clinical stage (FIGO III), and the other patient had an unusual pigmented squamous cell carcinoma in liB postoperative stage. There were also 2 cases of delayed unilateral ovarian metastases of cutaneous PMM. The diagnosis in all cases of non-vulvar pigmented lesions was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: Although uncommon, PL especially those affecting rare localizations must be considered as diagnostic possibility in FGT.