A case of a pT3, HPV 52-positive vulvar carcinoma in an 18-year-old woman

Vulvar carcinoma in young women is rare; so far, no case of an 18-year-old woman has been described. Here, we report a case with a T3 HPV 52-induced tumor 3 years after primary HPV contamination. An 18-year-old woman without risk factors complaining of dysuria and vulvar pain was treated several months for fungal infection before referred and diagnosed with a vulvar carcinoma located between clitoris and urethra. She underwent operation with partial urethral resection and external radiation. The tumor tested positive for HPV type 52, the time between primary sexual contact and tumor development was less than 3 years. Also in very young women, an ulcer and vulvar pain have to be biopsied to exclude malignancy despite an unusual short time interval between possible HPV contamination and symptoms.