Carcinoma of the vagina is a relatively uncommon disease, affecting only about 2,000 women in the United States each year. It accounts for only 1 to 2 percent of all gynecologic malignancies and occurs primarily in postmenopausal women. Cancer arising in another organ that spreads to the vagina is much more common.
Types The most common type of vaginal cancer develops in the surface (squamous) cells lining the vagina. About 85 percent of all vaginal cancers are squamous cell tumors. About 5 percent develop in glandular tissues (adenocarcinoma). Other cell types include melanoma (3 percent), sarcomas (3 percent) and endodermal sinus tumor (1 percent).
Squamous cell carcinomas, leiomyosarcomas and melanomas generally arise in older women. Adenocarcinomas and rhabdomyosarcomas usually occur during adolescence. The very rare sarcoma botryoides and endodermal sinus tumors most frequently occur in infants.
How It Spreads Squamous cell carcinomas that originate in the skin lining of the vagina can remain confined to the lining for some time. At this stage it is known as vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN)
