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Penile cancer--is lymphadenectomy necessary in all cases?
V Srinivas1, R Choudary, R Ravikumar
1Department of Urology, Bombay Hospital Institute Medical Sciences, India.
Objectives:
This retrospective study examines the need for lymphadenectomy in all cases of penile cancer.
Methods:
Thirty-six patients were followed up regularly by the same person between 1986 and 1992.
Results:
Nine (25%) patients presented with positive groin lymph nodes and underwent immediate ilioinguinal node dissection. Of the 27 (75%) patients who presented with negative groin lymph nodes, 10 had a delayed lymph node dissection. Four of these patients are alive at 3.7 years. Three died within 1 year of surgery and 3 are lost to follow-up. Seventeen patients (47%) did not require lymphadenectomy and 14 (82%) of these patients are alive at 3.8 years, the other 3 being lost to follow-up.
Conclusions:
A careful, closely monitored, follow-up protocol can eliminate the need for lymphadenectomy in select patients with penile cancer.