[Penile cancer. Review of 18 cases]

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common tumor of the penis. Nodal metastases are relatively common, but distant disemmination is very rare.

From 1990 to 2002, we diagnosed and treated 18 cases of carcinoma of the penis. The minimum follow-up was 2 years (range 2-11 years; mean 49 months). Treatment of the primary lesion is usually by partial amputation of the penis, which enables us to determine the pathological stage and the histological grade of the tumor and, consequently, our approach to the regional lymph nodes.

Palpable inguinal nodes after antibiotherapy remained in six out of seven patients. Inguinal lymphadenectomy was performed early in 4 cases. Postoperative complications were present in the 4 cases, lymphedema being the most frequent one (100%).

The T and the histological grade of the primary lesion must be considered when deciding the approach in the management of the lymph nodes as unneccesary lymphadenectomy can be avoided and those at high risk of lymph node invasion can be treated radically and timely.