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INTRODUCTION: A multifactorial etiology has been implicated in the development and maintenance of vestibulodynia (VBD), and atrophic changes of the vestibular mucosa have been observed in many patients. AIM: To assess the vestibular mucosa thickness in patients with VBD by comparing this sample with a control group of healthy fertile women and postmenopausal patients with symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). METHODS: Vestibular mucosa thickness was measured with a 20 MHz ultrasound probe (DermaScan C, Cortex Technology, Denmark), including both the epidermis and dermis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All women were evaluated by anamnesis, physical examination, and self-report symptoms. Thickness of the vestibular mucosa (expressed in micrometers) was determined by the B-mode, excluding the hyperechogenic entrance echo and hypoechogenic subcutis. Clinical data related to VBD and GSM were recorded using a 0- to 10-point visual analog scale related to dyspareunia and vulvar pain/burning (0 = no pain; 10 = worst possible pain). RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were recruited: 24 with VBD, 20 with GSM-related symptoms, and 20 matched controls. Vestibular mucosa thickness measurements were not significantly different between the VBD (mean ± DS: 1,092.5 ± 226.1 µm) and GSM groups (1,059.7 ± 221.5 µm), while the parameter was significantly lower (P < .01) than the control group (1,310.6 ± 250.0 µm). Correlation analysis in the VBD and GSM groups between low vestibular mucosa thickness and symptom intensity (burning/pain and dyspareunia) showed a significant correlation. CONCLUSION: Patients with VBD have a vestibular mucosa with a lower thickness than healthy women of the same age, with an almost identical value to that found in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, a low vestibular mucosa thickness in the VBD and GSM groups showed a significant correlation with burning/pain intensity and dyspareunia severity. F Murina, S Barbieri, C Lubrano, MD, et al. Vestibular Mucosa Thickness Measured by Ultrasound in Patients Affected by Vestibulodynia: A Case-Control Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100320.

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Resumen ANTECEDENTES: Existen pocos reportes de neoplasias epiteliales con apariencia escamosa originadas en el cuello uterino o la vagina. Estas lesiones se clasifican, por su similitud morfológica, en lesiones similares a queratosis seborreica. Cuando ésta aparece en la mucosa de la vulva o vagina debe establecerse la diferenciación con lesiones intraepiteliales escamosas de bajo y alto grado. OBJETIVO: Describir un caso de queratosis seborreica en el saco de Douglas. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 70 años, con pérdida involuntaria de orina con los esfuerzos; se le colocó una cinta suburetral para resolver este problema. Durante el procedimiento se detectó una lesión en la mucosa vaginal, a las seis del reloj, en el fondo del saco de Douglas, de 1.2 x 1 cm, color pardo y consistencia blanda. Durante el procedimiento se tomó una muestra para estudio histopatológico que se reportó como: epidermis con marcada hiperqueratosis, acantosis regular, ensanchamiento y anastomosis de las crestas con formación de perlas córneas, dermis con infiltrado inflamatorio crónico perivascular, negativo para malignidad. Se estableció el diagnóstico de queratosis seborreica hipertrófica, positiva para tinción de P16 que orientó a infección de virus del papiloma. El tratamiento fue: escisión con evolución satisfactoria y seguimiento. CONCLUSIONES: La queratosis seborreica en el fondo de saco de Douglas se reporta de manera excepcional, su comportamiento es benigno y casi siempre se asocia con tipos de virus del papiloma humano de bajo riesgo.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Thera are few repots of intraepithelial neoplasms with origins in the cervix or vagina with squamous appearance. This kind of lesions have been classified because of their morphologic similarities, in the category of "seborrheic keratoses like". When seborrheic keratoses appears in the vaginal or vulvar mucosa, it has to be differentiated from low and high grade intraepithelial squamous lesions. OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of seborrheic keratoses in the recto-uterine pouch. CLINICAL CASE: 70 years old patient, who underwent surgery for stress urinary incontinence with a sub-urethral sling. During the procedure, a lesion in the vaginal mucosa was detected, specifically in the recto-uterine pouch, of 1.2 x 1 cm length, with a light brown color and soft consistency. A specimen was taken from the lesion during the procedure for histopathological study, which reported: hyperkeratosis in the epidermis, regular acanthosis, thickening and anastomosis of the crests with formation of corneal pearls, dermis with inflammatory, chronic, perivascular infiltration, with no signs of malignancy. The diagnosis was hypertrophic seborrheic keratoses, positive for P16 stain which orients to HPV infection. The lesion was removed and the patient continued follow up with her primary care provider. CONCLUSIONS: Seborrheic keratoses in this location is uncommon, with few reports in literature. These lesions are usually benign and are associated to HPV of low risk.