[Carcinoma of the penis: radiotherapy]

Various irradiation methods have been employed in the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas of the penis; orthovoltage, interstitial implants, molds and contact radiotherapy have been used, but megavoltage external beam therapy has became prevalent. A summary of tumor control rates achieved with different treatment techniques is presented. Radiotherapy has yielded comparable results in several institutions and ten years crude survival is 50-60% with NED survival of 85%. The tumor control is closely related to the stage of the disease and control rates are comparable for the interstitial and external photon or electron beam therapy. RT with surgery reserved for the management of local recurrence is an effective first line treatment for patients with carcinoma of the penis with acceptable morbidity and high proportion of long term survivors. Radiotherapy seems to be the treatment of choice in the limited cancer of the penis if preservation of a functioning organ is the major therapeutic aim.