Our cancer specialists at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center are highly experienced in using the most advanced techniques for diagnosing vulvar cancer and are actively researching better and more precise ways to detect cancer.
Diagnosing vulvar cancer
Our gynecologic oncologists perform a thorough gynecologic examination to diagnose vulvar cancer. A special magnifying instrument called a colposcope provides better visualization of the tissue.
A number of diagnostic tests can confirm a vulvar cancer diagnosis, including:
- Biopsy
- Colposcopy
- Gynecologic exam and careful examination of the skin in the vaginal and groin area. Cervical cancer may also present in women with vulvar cancer
- Pap smear, and additional smears from the vagina and vulva
- Lymph node biopsy, except in patients with the earliest stage of vulvar cancer
- Chest X-ray and CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis, to look for disease spread to lymph nodes and/or distant organs
- Endoscopy (cystoscopy and proctoscopy), if spread to the bladder or rectum is suspected