Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the penis: a case report

Penile cancer is a rare tumour with a global annual incidence of 0.2 to 1 case per 100,000 men. Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) of the penis, also known as carcinosarcoma, is a rare form of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis, accounting for approximately 1-2% of all penile cancers. We report a case of SC of the penis in a 60-year-old man.

A 60-year-old male patient presented, with a penile glans nodule that had developed over a two-month period. The patient was employed in the agricultural sector and had a history of hypertension, which he asserted was effectively managed through pharmacological intervention. A specialist examination revealed an enlarged, cauliflower-shaped penile head with surface ulceration, approximately the size of 2 cm. He underwent a partial resection and bilateral inguinal and pelvic lymph node dissection. Histopathology demonstrated that the tumour cells were p63-positive, while p16 expression was absent. Vimentin and p53 were positive in the sarcomatous component, and the morphology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with penile SC. After six months, there was no evidence of disease progression.

The diagnosis of SC is challenging, and an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards successful treatment, which has a higher probability of success. It presents as a large, aggressive tumour, usually associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Our case adds to the literature and reviews the treatment options for this rare disease and the poor prognosis associated with this malignancy.