Gynecologic oncology
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Gynecologic oncology · Jan 1988
Recurrent acute leg cellulitis in patients after radical vulvectomy.
Recurrent acute leg cellulitis (ALC) known to occur in patients with impaired venous or lymphatic circulation was studied in 126 patients after radical vulvectomy with lymphadenectomy through the years 1973 to 1985. Among these patients surveyed for a total period of 6153 patient months, 33 (26%) experienced 75 episodes of ALC. Recurrent attacks were frequently observed. ⋯ Analysis of a number of assumed risk factors for ALC showed that the frequency of ALC was significantly higher in patients colonized with beta-hemolytic streptococci, mainly group B, than in patients not colonized with these microorganisms just prior to surgery. This suggests that non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococci are involved in the onset of ALC in patients after radical vulvectomy. However, portals of entry for microorganisms were not apparent in any of our patients.