A review of penile cancer

Abstract

Cancer of the penis is a rare tumour in Europe and mainly affects the elderly patient population. The aim of this paper was to analyse and study the characteristics of this tumour, in our patient population.

Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on penile tumours diagnosed and treated in the Urology Department of the Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, in the last ten years.

Results: A total of 34 patients were diagnosed and treated. The mean age at presentation was 71.27 years. The mean time between symptoms and the first consultation was 12.54 months with a median of 6 months. The most common form of presentation was balanoposthitis (32%) and the most common site in our series was the glans. Partial penectomy was performed in 22 cases, total amputation in 8, and local excision in 3.

Discussion: Carcinoma of the penis is a pathology which mostly affects elderly patients; in our series, the highest incidence was observed in patients in the group aged 75-84 years. The most common histological type was epidermoid carcinoma in its various forms of presentation. We recorded a mortality of 23%.

Conclusion: Penile carcinoma is a rare pathology which affects elderly persons and is diagnosed late.

Figure 1

Distribution according to age.