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 < 0.01), 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 the 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.