[Epidermoid carcinoma of the penis]

To analyze our series and review the prognostic factors in the treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the penis.

Age, time to consultation, circumcision, form of presentation, local treatment, tumor stage and grade, lymph node involvement and outcome were analyzed in 27 cases of carcinoma of the penis diagnosed at our hospital from 1981 to 1999.

The incidence rate was 1.8 cases/100,000 men/year. No patient had been circumcised, except one who was circumcised in the adult age. The median time to consultation was 24 months (interquartile range: 60-7.75). The median follow-up was 37 months (interquartile range: 84-12). All patients with pT1GI-II and pT2G-II primary tumor (n = 21; 78% of the series) and with no lymphadenopathy were disease-free at 6 months' minimum follow-up [17 of the 21 patients (81%) had more than 32 months' follow-up]. Only one patient with pT1-GII tumor, but with a vertical growth pattern, had positive inguinal lymph nodes (pN2). The remaining patients with lymph node involvement showed infiltration of the erectile tissue and moderately or poorly differentiated tumors. Only two prophylactic lymphadenectomy procedures were performed (pN0). Regardless of treatment, 5 of the 6 patients with lymph node involvement died within one year after diagnosis.

Given the demonstrated relationship between carcinoma of the penis and hygiene, and phimosis which makes hygiene difficult, circumcision should be performed in childhood. Furthermore, circumcision at this age has been demonstrated to have a prophylactic value that disappears in the adult age.