Metastases to the penis from carcinoma of the prostate. A case report

In a 68-year-old man metastasis to the penis was diagnosed about two years after transurethral resection of the prostate because of adenocarcinoma. Diethylstilboestrol has been given postoperatively. Initially the metastasis was interpreted as primary cancer of the penis, as biopsy findings indicated a spinocellular carcinoma. Subsequent biopsies, however, showed the same histologic pattern as in the original cancer of the prostate. Up to 1976 about 170 cases of metastasis to the penis were reported in the literature. The prognosis as a rule is very poor. In the present case estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) seemed to improve the patients's general health, but did not affect the penile metastasis. The patient died 18 months after the metastasis had been demonstrated.