A retrospective analysis of 82 cases of cancer of the penis

Objective To identify prognostic factors for penile cancer and to evaluate the treatment strategy for early-stage disease, proposed recently by the European Board of Urology (EBU), Patient and methods The records of 82 patients consecutively referred to the uro-oncological centre at Aarhus University Hospital between 1965 and 1993 were reviewed, The importance of tumour stage, differentiation, patient age, local control and regional lymph node control were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Cox multivariate analysis identified differentiation (odds ratio [OR]=6.04), UICC-1978 T-stage (OR=1,88) and age (OR=1,04) as independent prognostic variables for survival. Penile amputation in tumours <4 cm in diameter improved local control but not survival, Regional control and survival were not significantly improved by prophylactic adenectomy, Conclusion Differentiation, T-stage and age were prognostic factors for survival. The results support the EBU treatment strategy involving penis-conserving therapy and watchful waiting far early-stage disease.