Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Literature review

Abstract

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is the proliferation of atypical basal cells in the vulvar epithelium. The global VIN incidence has recently doubled; its incidence among white women under 35 years of age has almost tripled with a tendency for further growth. Such an increase in the number of usual-type VIN cases in young women is primarily attributed to infection with highly oncogenic human papillomavirus. The second type of dysplasia, namely differentiated VIN, is usually found in older women and is associated with chronic dystrophic diseases of the vulva, most frequently with lichen sclerosus of the vulva. VIN diagnosis is quite challenging; no screening programs for this disorder have been developed so far. Patients with VIN practice self-treatment for a long time, which aggravates their condition and might trigger the development of vulvar cancer. Several treatment options are currently available; however, their efficacy worldwide is not high.