The Prevalence of Penile Cancer in Patients With Adult Acquired Buried Penis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of penile cancer in patients with adult acquired buried penis (AABP). Penile cancer is a rare but aggressive cancer. Several case reports have recently been published that indicate that AABP may increase the risk of penile cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of adults diagnosed with AABP and penile cancer between January, 2008 and December, 2018 seen at a tertiary referral center. Demographics including age, BMI, comorbidities, etiology of AABP, smoking history, circumcision status, and premalignant lesions (condyloma, lichen sclerosus [LS] carcinoma in situ [CIS]) were recorded. For patients with penile cancer, AJCC staging, grade, TNM staging and treatments were recorded. Basic descriptive statistics were performed for the overall cohort. We used Chi-square tests and Fisher exact tests to compare differences between patients with benign pathology and patients with malignant or pre-malignant pathology. RESULTS: We identified 150 patients with the diagnosis of AABP. The prevalence of penile squamous cell carcinoma was 7%. There was a 35% rate of premalignant lesions. This study is limited by its retrospective and single-institution nature. CONCLUSION: AABP is a condition that incorporates multiple risk factors for penile cancer. The prevalence of penile cancer appears to be higher in patients with AABP; however, more data are needed to confirm these initial findings. Patients with AABP should be counseled on these risks and should be considered for buried penis repair if a physical examination cannot be performed.