CORPUS CAVERNOSUM INVASION AND TUMOR GRADE IN THE PREDICTION OF LYMPH-NODE CONDITION IN PENILE CARCINOMA

Of the 101 patients with penile cancer, we have analyzed 66 from whom we had enough information: 42 (63.3%) patients with corpora cavernosa invasion (T2-3) and 24 (36.6%) without (T1). With respect to the tumor grade, in 36 (54.3%) patients it was well differentiated (G I), in 23 (34.8%) moderately (G II) and in 7 (10.6 %) poorly differentiated (G III). We also analyzed the inguinal lymph node condition. Of the 66 patients, 28 (42.4%) developed nodal metastases, and 38 (57.6%) were considered free of nodal metastases and disease with an average follow-up of 76.2 months (range 38-192). The presence of metastatic nodes was influenced by both tumor stage and grade with significant differences between T2-3 and T1 (p = 0.001) and between G II-III and G I (p < 0.0 1), but each of them alone was not a sufficiently reliable predictive factor. In order to associate local stages and tumor grades in relation to the presence of metastatic nodes, we checked that none of the patients with T1, G I (group 1) developed nodal metastases, and therefore, 'wait and see' should be suitable approach. Twenty (80%) of the patients with T2-3, G II-III (group 2) developed metastatic lymph nodes, thus, in this group, an early lymphadenectomy should be performed. In the remaining 22 patients with T1, G II-III and T2, G I (group 3), 8 (36.4%) showed metastatic lymph nodes; in this group, other factors such as age, cultural level and obesity should be taken into account when deciding on lymphadenectomy.