Predictive factors for local recurrence after glansectomy and neoglans reconstruction for penile squamous cell...

To investigate predictive pathological factors for local recurrence (LR) after glansectomy for penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and to develop a risk score for prediction of LR after glansectomy.

In this retrospective study, we analyzed 117 patients operated between February 2005 and January 2016 in a supraregional penile cancer center in the UK for LR after glansectomy and glans reconstruction. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify 4 prognostic indicators for LR. The hazard ratio (HR) of LR was estimated in Kaplan-Meier analysis, and based on these data, we designed a postoperative model for prediction of LR based on 3 risk groups.

Median follow-up period was 33.7 (95% CI: 26.8-40.3) months; 12.8% of the patients experienced LR. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that the risk factors for recurrence were the presence of perineural invasion, carcinoma in situ, positive margin on definitive pathology, and high-grade disease. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis stratified by number of factors present, we defined 3 risk groups for LR: low (0,1 risk factors) as reference, intermediate (2,3 risk factors) with HR of 13.9 (95% CI: 1.81-107.04, P = 0.0115), or high risk (all 4 risk factors present) with a HR of 34.2 (95% CI: 3.07-381.81, P = 0,0041). Limitations include the retrospective design and low number of events inherent to the rare nature of penile SCC.

Perineural invasion, carcinoma in situ, positive definitive margins, and the presence of high-grade SCC predict LR following glansectomy. These factors can be used to stratify patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups for recurrence which may be used to tailor follow-up.