Total glans resurfacing for premalignant lesions of the penis: initial outcome data

Abstract

Objective: To report our initial experience of total glans resurfacing (TGR), as premalignant lesions of the glans penis have conventionally been treated by local excision, topical chemotherapy, laser or cryotherapy, but these techniques are frequently associated with high local failure rates and unsightly scarring that can make monitoring by gross inspection difficult.

Patients and methods: TGR involves removing the glans and subcoronal epithelial and subepithelial tissues down to the corpus spongiosum of the glans and Buck's fascia at the coronal sulcus. The denuded glans penis is then covered with an extra-genital skin graft. Ten patients underwent TGR: six had recurrent erythroplasia of Queyrat after 5% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy; one had no clinical response to 5-FU or imiquimod; one had a severe allergic reaction and therefore could not tolerate 5-FU; and two had extensive glans hyperkeratosis and severe dysplasia.

Results: There were no postoperative complications. All skin grafts took successfully, and the cosmetic results were excellent. In all cases, pathological resection margins were clear. To date, there has been no evidence of disease recurrence on follow-up (median 30 months, range 7-45).

Conclusions: TGR is a successful surgical alternative for managing intractable premalignant penile lesions. It has the potential to restore normal anatomy and minimize the risk of local recurrence by replacing diseased epithelium and subepithelial tissues with healthy extra-genital skin.