Clinical Management Issues, Vol 8, No 2 (2014)

Penis cancer: a case report

Gregorio Sampalmieri, Antonello Moretti, Luca De Pascale, Matteo Sampalmieri

Abstract


Penis cancer appears as a small lesion that extends gradually to affect the whole of the glans and the shaft of the penis. Its peak incidence is in men aged 40 to 70 years. The most frequent malignant penis tumour is squamous cell carcinoma, which occurrence is probably favoured by smegma accumulation, HPV16 and 18 infection, smoke, and balanitis xerotica obliterans. Here we discuss the case of a 74-year-old man with sovrapubic pain and swelling. Physical examination reveals swollen glans with purulent secretions and oedema. The final diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma is established by means of RMN and biopsy. Partial penectomy surgery follows. Histopathological examination shows poorly differentiated endophytic infiltrative growth. The tumour infiltrates corpus spongiosum, corpora cavernosa, and urethra. The proximal uretheral stump is free from infiltration (pT3).