Quality of Life and Psychological State after Radical Vulvectomy

Abstract

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate retrospectively the quality of life in a group of women treated with radical vulvectomy with or without lymphadenectomy for vulvar neoplasia. The series consists of 21 patients under age 61 evaluated from 6 months to more than 5 years after surgery. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain information relating to work activity, emotional adjustment and the sexual relationship with the partner. All patients also completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Analyses indicated a decrease in adjustment for the emotional relationship in 41% of the subjects, in 38% of the subjects for working activity, and among 76% of the subjects for sexual activity. The MMPI results showed high values for the 3 ‘neurotic’ scales (hysteria, hypochondria, depression), with only slight elevations for the ‘psychotic’ scales. These data are discussed in the context of previous research on the psychosocial and sexual outcomes following gynecologic cancer treatment.