Evaluation of the response chemotherapy for penile metastasis of bladder cancer using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT

Metachronous penile metastasis of bladder cancer occurs very rarely. The clinical management of the disease involves complex problems, and the disease is associated with a poor prognosis. The common mode of spread to the penis is by the retrograde venous route.

A 68-year-old patient who was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer underwent (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for staging purposes. An 18mm intracavernosal metastatic lesion was detected in the penis with a SUVmax of 12.9.

After the administration of gemcitabine+cisplatin-based chemotherapy, remission was observed in the metastatic penile lesion according to EORTC criteria (12mm, SUVmax: 9), and second line chemotherapy program was planned.

Penile metastasis from bladder cancer is an indicator of poor prognosis. The patients with penile metastasis poorly respond to therapy, despite the use of effective systemic chemotherapy. The researchers of the current study achieved a partial response to chemotherapy in the current case of penile metastasis. The disease-specific life expectancy is less than one year in these patients. Radical ablative surgery does not contribute to survival; however, it offers an alternative method in symptomatic patients.