Outcomes for Organ-Preserving Surgery for Penile Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Urology
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Penile cancer (PC) traditionally treated with partial penectomy and 2-cm margins.
• Organ-preserving surgery for PC is gaining traction, but functional outcomes remain debated.
• Lack of consensus on functional outcomes after conservative resection for PC.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate sexual and urinary function after organ-sparing surgery for penile cancer (PC).
• Utilize standardized, validated questionnaires for functional assessment.
• Provide realistic functional outcomes for PC patients undergoing penile-sparing procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of six PC patients undergoing organ-sparing surgery (2003-2012).
• Assessment of sexual and urinary quality of life using validated tools: International Index of Erectile Function and patient-reported outcome measure for urethral stricture surgery.
• Retrospective data collection on patient-reported outcomes.

Main Results:

• 50% of patients reported normal erections but dissatisfaction with sexual activity.
• The other 50% reported no sexual activity or desire.
• Excellent overall urinary function reported, with mild symptoms like decreased stream (18%) and incomplete voiding (67%).
• 83% reported sexual symptoms did not interfere with daily life; 100% were satisfied with the procedure.

Conclusions:

• First study using validated questionnaires for sexual/urinary function in North American PC patients.
• Penile-sparing surgery for PC demonstrates excellent urinary function and quality of life.
• Results offer realistic sexual outcomes compared to non-validated methods.