ABSTRACT
Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis is a rare disease in the developed world but common in underdeveloped countries. We have evaluated the prognostic factors related to penile carcinoma and assessed the outcome of patients regarding the lymph node status at two institutions. Materials and methods: Between January 1990 and December 2003, 87 patients with a clinical diagnosis of penile carcinoma had been treated at Instituto de Cancer de Londrina and Universidade Estadual de Londrina and were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who were followed for more than 18 months or until death due to penile cancer were evaluated for prognostic factors. Overall survival was calculated according to lymph node status. Results: Overall survival according to lymph node status at presentation, showed a poor outcome for patients with palpable lymph nodes compared with those with clinically negative lymph node (2-year survival of 20 and 68 respectively, p < 0.0005). The same was observed in those who presented delayed lymphadenopathy compared with patients who persisted N0 during follow-up time (2-year-survival of 28 and 90 respectively, p < 0.0005). Forty eight patients were assessed for prognostic factors. Histological grade and pathological stage were all statistically significant at univariate analysis regarding disease-free survival. Conclusion: Patients with positive lymph node had a poor overall survival regardless whether or not an immediate or a delayed lymphadenectomy had been performed. Histological grade and pathological stage were the only variables statistically significant at univariate analysis with respect to disease-free survival.