How does TCM diagnose vulvar leukoplakia?

The diagnosis of vulvar leukoplakia in traditional Chinese medicine should start with the characteristics of the lesions and clinical symptoms.

1. TCM classification of vulvar leukoplakia

Traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses vulvar leukoplakia into two types based on different clinical symptoms, namely hyperplastic dystrophy and lichen sclerosus dystrophy.

Hyperplastic malnutrition: Symptoms include unbearable itching of the vulva, accompanied by local pain after scratching, mainly affecting the labia majora and the groove between the labia majora, which is often symmetrical. The skin in the affected area is thickened like leather, with raised wrinkles, and generally no atrophy or adhesion.

Lichen sclerosus dystrophy: Symptoms include itching in the affected area, whitening, thinning, drying and cracking of the skin or mucous membranes, loss of elasticity, and atrophy of the clitoris. Dyspareunia in the late stage

It should be noted that vulvar itching caused by diabetes, fungi, etc. should be excluded during diagnosis. If there are ulcers and obvious hyperplasia, pathological examination can be considered to prevent malignant changes.

2. TCM examines from the whole to the local

According to the pathological characteristics of vulvar leukoplakia, the following diagnosis can be made from the overall to the local.

Overall, observe whether the patient is fat, thin, weak, or strong, and whether the patient is afraid of cold, hot, alternating between cold and hot, or has cold body and limbs. Examine the tongue, identify the tongue coating, and observe the pulse. Ask about: menstruation, dysmenorrhea, pregnancy, childbirth, whether the patient has the same disease, etc.

Locally, carefully inspect the lesions for cracks, atrophy, ulcers, nodules, adhesions, swelling, exudation, desquamation, and reduced elasticity. Check whether the edges of the lesions are neat and the boundaries are clear. Observe the morphology of these rashes to distinguish between cold and dampness, heat accumulation, yang deficiency, phlegm and blood deficiency, and the severity of the disease.