What Are the Key Symptoms of Vulvar Leukoplakia?

Update Date: 2024-09-26 Source: Network

Understanding Vulvar Leukoplakia: Its Symptoms and Implications

As the name implies, vulvar leukoplakia refers to the localized white lesions on the vulva. Its symptoms primarily manifest as itching of the vulva, regardless of season or time of day, causing distress to patients and significantly impacting the quality of intimate relationships. To aid in early detection of this condition, let's delve deeper into the primary symptoms of vulvar leukoplakia:

1. Vulvar Leukoplakia with Hyperplasia

The primary symptom is vulvar itching, which can be severe in some patients, worsening at night. Frequent scratching often leads to redness, swelling, and ulcers, causing discomfort such as burning sensations. Severe skin keratinization and repeated shedding of the keratinized layer, or scratching-induced vulvar inflammation, edema, chapping, ulcers, and erosions, may accompany itching and pain. While patients may feel their symptoms are severe, they tend to respond well to treatment, making this a prominent feature of vulvar leukoplakia.

2. Vulvar Leukoplakia with Atrophy

The typical symptom is mild, visually perceptible atrophy of the vulva, typically starting from the labia majora, labia minora, and clitoris. Elasticity decreases in both labia, with reduced or absent surface wrinkles. Vulvar itching is relatively mild. However, due to atrophy, the vulva becomes dry, leading to discomfort during sexual activity. Local vulvar skin pigmentation decreases, appearing as multiple punctate or patchy areas. The labia majora flatten, labia minora disappear, and the clitoris atrophies, becoming smaller or adhering. The urethral opening atrophies, potentially causing urinary incontinence in severe cases, while the vaginal opening atrophies, making sexual activity difficult.

3. Mixed-Type Vulvar Leukoplakia

In the later stages of the disease, patients with both hyperplastic and atrophic types of vulvar leukoplakia often exhibit a combination of symptoms. Pathologically, this presents as mixed dystrophy. These are the primary symptoms of vulvar leukoplakia. Experts advise that this condition poses significant harm to women and emphasize the importance of early preventive measures, prompt diagnosis, and timely treatment, urging against passive neglect of symptoms.