Anpheros Search · Condition

Vulvar cancer

Also known as: Malignant neoplasms of vulva, unspecified

General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).

In short

Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer that forms in the external genitals of a woman, known as the vulva, and usually grows slowly over several years. Precancerous cells, known as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia or dysplasia, grow on the vulvar skin first, though not all cases turn into cancer. While it often does not cause symptoms at first, signs can include a lump in the vulva, vulvar itching or tenderness, bleeding that is not a period, or changes in the vulvar skin such as color changes, warts, or ulcers. Risk is greater for individuals who have had a human papillomavirus infection or a history of genital warts.

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.

AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.

Codes

ICD-10
C51
ICD-11
2C70.Z Malignant neoplasms of vulva, unspecified

Description

Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer. It forms in a woman's external genitals, called the vulva. The cancer usually grows slowly over several years. First, precancerous cells grow on vulvar skin. This is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), or dysplasia. Not all VIN cases turn into cancer, but it is best to treat it early.

Often, vulvar cancer doesn't cause symptoms at first. However, see your doctor for testing if you notice:

  • A lump in the vulva
  • Vulvar itching or tenderness
  • Bleeding that is not your period
  • Changes in the vulvar skin, such as color changes or growths that look like a wart or ulcer

You are at greater risk if you've had a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection or have a history of genital warts. Your health care provider diagnoses vulvar cancer with a physical exam and a biopsy. Treatment varies, depending on your overall health and how advanced the cancer is. It might include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or biologic therapy. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.

Next to it in ICD-10

Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.

External resources

Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for Vulvar cancer?

C51 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).

What is the ICD-11 code for Vulvar cancer?

2C70.Z: Malignant neoplasms of vulva, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).

Sources and attribution

  • ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
  • Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
  • Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
  • ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).

Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →