Epidemiology of vulvar and vaginal cancer in Germany

Population-based cancer registration is comprehensively implemented in the whole of Germany. Since 2009 the Center for Cancer Registry Data has been collecting the cancer registry data of the federal states every year and determining their completeness. On this basis cancer of the vulva and vagina were estimated (defined as C51-C52 according to the currently valid tenth version of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, ICD-10). Currently, approximately 3580 new cases occur each year of which just under 90% affect the vulva. An increase in cancer of the vulva has also led to an increase in deaths in recent years. Approximately 930 women died of vulvar cancer in 2016 and another 190 died of vaginal cancer. In young adulthood, malignant vulvar and vaginal tumors are very rare. The age-specific incidence rates continuously increase with increasing age. Women with cancer of the vulva or vagina are several years older at diagnosis (median age at diagnosis73years) than women with other gynecological diseases, such as ovarian or endometrial cancer (median age at diagnosis69years). Out of 3 patients with vulvar cancer 1 will have died from the disease 5 years after diagnosis (relative survival 68%). Women with cancer of the vagina have an even worse prognosis, where the 5-year relative survival is 43%.