Article Text
Summary
A 41-year-old female with significant psychiatric history presented with persistent vulvar lesions that were refractory to common clinic and home based wart therapies. Vulvoscopy directed biopsies confirmed invasive vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and further investigation revealed cervical and anal intraepithelial neoplasia in a patient who remained HIV negative with no other cause of immunosuppression detected other than smoking. Vulvectomy following cancer diagnosis lead to a relapse of her psychiatric illness and excessive alcohol intake. Her psychiatric illness in turn affected her further management and follow-up. This case highlights the need for the case based, medical, surgical, psychological and social considerations when managing persistent anogenital warts and anogenital neoplasia as well as the psychological impact of vulvectomy.