Surgical excision of the external genitals (see VULVA). In simple vulvectomy the LABIA majora and minora and the CLITORIS are surgically removed, usually to treat a non-malignant growth. A more extensive operation is radical vulvectomy in which there is wide excision of the two labia and the clitoris along with complete removal of all regional LYMPH NODES on both sides and the covering skin. This procedure is carried out to treat cancer of the vulva.
n. surgical removal of the external genitals (see vulva) of a woman. Simple vulvectomy involves excision of the labia majora, labia minora, and clitoris and is carried out for a nonmalignant growth. Radical vulvectomy is a much more extensive operation carried out for a malignant growth, e.g. cancer of the vulva. It involves wide excision of the labia majora and minora and the clitoris in addition to complete removal of all regional lymph nodes on both sides. The skin covering these areas is also removed, leaving an extensive raw area that is allowed to heal by *granulation.
a relatively rare gynaecological cancer, most common in the elderly. The most common symptom is longstanding itch, but vulval pain, discharge, and bleeding have also been reported. Surgery is the primary treatment, with wide excision by radical *vulvectomy and regional *lymphadenectomy. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can also be used.... vulval cancer
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