Extramammary Paget’s Disease (CK7)
Extramammary Paget disease is a rare form of cancer that is connected to Paget’s disease of the breast. However, it is found around the genitals and anus of both men and women. The disease commonly occurs in postmenopausal women on their vulva. This is a slow-growing cancer which can be present for 10 – 15 years before becoming noticeable.
Texas Surgical Dermatology, led by board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen, provides treatments for Extramammary Paget’s Disease to patients in Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Treatment Options for CK7 Skin Cancer
Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is an advanced technique that can remove all types of skin cancer while protecting a margin of healthy surrounding tissue. This treatment is generally recommended for Extramammary Paget’s Disease.
A primary difference between Mohs surgery and other skin cancers is that Mohs surgery tries to preserve the maximum healthy tissue. The surgical team will do the following during Mohs surgery:
- Remove all visible parts of the tumor, including a small area of tissue surrounding it
- Examine the margin tissue under a microscope for cancer to determine whether further excision is required
- Continue removing tissue in stages until the cancer is completely removed
Excisional Biopsy
In excisional biopsy, the entire tumor is removed at one time. This method is preferred over incisional biopsy wherever possible in cases where CK7 is detected.
Excisional biopsy is also known as wide local incision and involves removing the tumor and normal tissue surrounding it using surgical techniques. The amount of clinical margin taken depends on the tumor thickness.
In case, Extramammary Paget disease is accompanied by melanoma the surgeon may perform skin grafting. This involves replacing removed skin with skin taken from another body part. Rotation skin flaps taken from other body areas may be used for covering the wound that results from the wide local excision. A majority of cutaneous melanoma excisions don’t require skin graft placement.
Vulvectomy
Vulvectomy procedure involves the removal of a part or all of the vulva, which includes both inner and outer labia. The surgeon will remove the clitoris as well in certain cases.
The vulva includes:
- Urethral meatus
- Labia minora
- Labia majora
- Clitoris
- Certain ducts and glands
- Introitus
- Vestibule
Vulvectomy is the primary treatment when it comes to vulvar cancer. The extent of vulva that needs to be removed will depend on the severity of cancer and other health conditions.
Types of Vulvectomy
Several different surgical procedures fall under the vulvectomy umbrella, such as:
- Skinning vulvectomy: Top layer of the skin is removed, leaving other tissues and most of the structure intact.
- Simple vulvectomy: Entire vulva is removed in this procedure, except the clitoris.
- Modified radical vulvectomy: The surgeon will remove most of the vulva, few lymph nodes, and surrounding tissue.
- Radical vulvectomy: The entire vulva is removed by the surgeon along with lymph nodes and surrounding tissue.
The type of surgery required depends on the severity of Extramammary Paget’s disease. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen at Texas Surgical Dermatology receives patients from Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and nearby areas for CK7 skin cancer treatment.
For More Information contact our Board Certified in Dermatologists at Texas Surgical Dermatology in Spring, TX
For more information on procedures and treatments offered at Texas Surgical Dermatology PA please call 832.663.6566 or click here to contact our dermatologists. Helping patients in Houston, The Woodlands, Spring, Katy and other surrounding areas of Texas.
