Vulvar Cancer Stages

Vulvar Cancer Staging Is Based On:

  • The size of the tumor : How large and deep has the cancer grown? Has the cancer reached nearby structures or organs like the bladder or rectum?
  • The spread to nearby lymph nodes
  • The spread to distant lymph nodes or distant organs

Staging can be complex and further explanation will be provided by your physician.

FIGO stage Stage description
IA The cancer is in the vulva or the perineum (the space between the rectum and the vagina) or both and has grown no more than 1 mm into underlying tissue (stroma) and is 2 cm or smaller (about 0.8 inches) 

It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or to distant sites .

IB The cancer is in the vulva or the perineum or both and is either more than 2 cm (0.8 inches) or it has grown more than 1 mm (0.04 inches) into underlying tissue (stroma) 

It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or to distant sites .

II The cancer can be any size and is growing into the anus or the lower third of the vagina or urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder). 

It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or to distant sites .

IIIA Cancer is in the vulva or perineum or both  and may be growing into the anus, lower vagina, or lower urethra. 

It has either spread to a single nearby lymph node with the area of cancer spread 5 mm or more OR it has spread to 1 or 2 nearby lymph nodes with both areas of cancer spread less than 5 mm.

It has not spread to distant sites.

IIIB Cancer is in the vulva or perineum or both and may be growing into the anus, lower vagina, or lower urethra 

The cancer has spread either to 3 or more nearby lymph nodes, with all areas of cancer spread less than 5 mm ; OR the cancer has spread to 2 or more lymph nodes with each area of spread 5 mm or greater.

It has not spread to distant sites.

IIIC Cancer is in the vulva or perineum or both and may be growing into the anus, lower vagina, or lower urethra . 

The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and has started growing through the outer covering of at least one of the lymph nodes (called extracapsular spread.

It has not spread to distant sites.

IVA Cancer is in the vulva or perineum or both  and may be growing into the anus, lower vagina, or lower urethra. 

The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and has become stuck (fixed) to the underlying tissue or has caused an ulcer(s) to form on the lymph node(s)(ulceration) .

It has not spread to distant sites .

IVA The cancer has spread beyond nearby tissues to the bladder, rectum, pelvic bone, or upper part of the urethra or vagina . 

It might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to distant sites.

IVB The cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes (pelvic) or organs such as lung or bone . The cancer can be any size and might or might not have spread to nearby organs. 

It might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

For more information on Vulvar Cancer Stages: 

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/vulvar-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/staging.html