Imaging of penile neoplasms

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Urology

Background:

• Clinical assessment of penile cancer often leads to inaccurate staging and suboptimal treatment.
• Effective management of penile cancer necessitates precise imaging for primary tumors and lymph node metastases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the assessment of primary penile cancer and lymph node metastases.
• To compare the efficacy of MR imaging with computed tomography (CT) in staging penile cancer.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, including T1- and T2-weighted sequences and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images, was used to assess primary penile tumors.
• Lymphotrophic nanoparticle-enhanced MR imaging was explored for detecting metastatic lymph node disease.
• Computed tomography (CT) was utilized for assessing metastases and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• Primary penile cancers typically appear as solitary, ill-defined, hypointense tumors on T1- and T2-weighted MR images.
• T2-weighted MR imaging effectively delineates tumor margins and penile shaft extension.
• Gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MR images show greater tumor enhancement compared to the corpora cavernosa.
• Lymphotrophic nanoparticle-enhanced MR imaging shows potential for identifying metastatic lymph nodes, though further research is needed.
• CT is less effective for local tumor extension but useful for metastases and postoperative assessment.

Conclusions:

• Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the most accurate modality for assessing primary penile cancer.
• Advanced MR techniques, including lymphotrophic nanoparticle-enhanced imaging, may improve the detection of lymph node metastases.
• A combination of imaging modalities may be necessary for comprehensive penile cancer staging and treatment planning.