Michelle Christodoulidou

Epidemiology of penile cancer

Penile cancer is a rare genital malignancy and most of the lesions are histologically classified as squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Although it is a rare tumor in developed countries, the incidence of penile cancer is significantly higher in developing countries. In this section we review the epidemiology of penile cancer in different population groups globally and also examine predisposing risk factors.

Glansectomy and Split-thickness Skin Graft for Penile Cancer

BACKGROUND Penile cancer is a rare malignancy that is confined to the glans in up to four out of five cases. Although descriptions of glansectomy exist, there are no contemporary video explanations or large published single centre series. OBJECTIVE To show the efficacy and safety of glansectomy and split-thickness skin graft (STSG) reconstruction. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Data were collected retrospectively for patients identified from surgical theatre diaries between February 2005 and January 2016. 177 patients with histologically proven squamous-cell carcinoma on the glans underwent glansectomy and STSG at a tertiary referral centre in the UK. The median follow-up was 41.4 mo. SURGICAL PROCEDURE The skin is incised at the subcoronal level and deepened onto Bucks fascia. Dissection is performed over or under Bucks fascia, depending on suspicion of invasion or risk of disease. The glans is excised and a neoglans is created using a STSG. MEASUREMENTS Local recurrence, cancer-specific survival, overall survival, and complications. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Sixteen out of 172 patients (9.3%) experienced local recurrence during the follow-up period. Eighteen out of 174 (10.7%) patients died of penile cancer, while 29 patients in total died during the follow-up period. Of 145 patients, 9% required operative intervention for complications, including graft loss and meatal stenosis. Limitations include the retrospective data collection and the lack of functional and sexual outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Glansectomy and STSG comprise a safe procedure in terms of oncologic control and complications for patients with penile cancer confined to the glans penis. Further studies are required to assess functional and sexual outcomes in these patients. PATIENT SUMMARY We report on the management of penile cancers confined to the head of the penis using glansectomy and a split-thickness skin graft to recreate the appearance of a glans. This technique is safe and effective, with limited complications.

Management of non-visualization following dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.

To review the management and clinical outcomes of uni‐ or bilateral non‐visualization of inguinal lymph nodes during dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy (DSNB) in patients diagnosed with penile cancer and clinically impalpable inguinal lymph nodes (cN0), and to develop an algorithm for the management of patients in which non‐visualization occurs.

Diagnosis and management of symptomatic seminal vesicle calculi

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to review the management of patients with symptomatic seminal vesicle calculi, from presentation and diagnosis to postoperative outcomes. Materials and methods: A systematic review of the English literature in MEDLINE and Embase was performed, based on the following model: patients with a diagnosis of seminal vesicle calculi; all interventions considered with or without control groups with single and comparator interventions; outcomes considered were incidence, presentation, diagnostic methods and treatment. A narrative synthesis of the data was performed according to PRISMA 2009 guidelines. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42016032971). Results: In total, 213 cases of seminal vesicle calculi from 37 studies were identified between 1928 and 2016. Published articles included cohort studies (16), case–control studies (two) and case reports (19). The most likely aetiology was stasis of ejaculate secondary to impaired drainage of secretions from the seminal vesicles. Transrectal ultrasound remains the primary investigation for haematospermia and painful ejaculation; however, magnetic resonance imaging seems to play an increasingly important role, especially when considering surgery. Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy and lithotripsy is the ideal procedure for small calculi but requires surgical expertise. For larger calculi a transperitoneal laparoscopic approach is safe in the hands of experienced laparoscopic surgeons. Conclusions: Modern imaging techniques and cross-sectional imaging are leading to an increased number of diagnosed cases of seminal vesicle calculi. Optimal treatment depends on the stone size and burden, and centralization of services will assist in the development of specialized centres.

Paratesticular liposarcoma and contralateral angiolipoma in a 60-year-old patient.

We present the case of a 60-year-old man who was referred with a 1-year history of a slow-growing right scrotal lump. Following surgical excision together with a radical orchidectomy, the histological diagnosis was of a paratesticular dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Radiological staging showed no metastatic disease. Six months later the patient presented with a new left scrotal lump, which was felt to be separate from the testis. Owing to the previous history of a liposarcoma and indeterminate ultrasound findings, this was surgically excised without orchidectomy. Histological analysis showed this to be an angiolipoma. The patient remained on clinical and radiological surveillance. Paratesticular tumours are rare neoplasms and liposarcomas of the spermatic cord only represent 7% of these lesions. Any link between lipomatous tumours and liposarcomas remains controversial and is still under investigation. This is the first case to report a paratesticular liposarcoma and a contralateral angiolipoma in the same patient.

Large bilateral seminal vesicle calculi presenting with spermolithiasis

A 34-year-old male presented with an 8-month history of passing increasingly painful ‘grit’ in his ejaculate. Semen analysis was normal as were urinary and blood tests. T1-weighted MRI revealed several bilateral high-signal areas measuring up to 1 cm in diameter, located in the seminal vesicles. These were confirmed as calculi on T2-weighted imaging and a seminal vesiculogram, with no drainage from the left ejaculatory duct and only minimal from the right duct. He is currently awaiting a robot-assisted laparoscopic vesiculotomy after completion of family.

Necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of the glans penis

We describe the case of a 73-year-old man who presented with a 10-month history of an ulcerating lesion on the glans penis. Initially this was thought to be an invasive squamous cell carcinoma but a biopsy showed histological features consistent with necrotizing granulomatous inflammation. Extensive serological, immunological and microbiological tests only showed a positive antinuclear and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies indicating a possible autoimmune aetiology but an underlying systemic cause was not identified. Treatment with oral corticosteroids limited the inflammatory process but due to the gross destruction of the glans penis, he still required a glansectomy and split-skin graft reconstruction from which he recovered well. Although this patient ultimately required surgery for this rare presentation, this case highlights the differential diagnosis of penile ulceration (that transcends neoplasia) and the importance of performing and interpreting penile biopsies before undertaking potentially mutilating definitive surgery.

A rare case of metachronous penile and urethral metastases from a rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma

Metastatic lesions in the penis are uncommon in patients with prostate or bladder cancer but penile metastatic lesions from rectal tumours are rare with only 65 cases reported in the literature. We describe the case of a 70-year-old man who developed metastatic lesions within his corpus cavernosum 2 years after being diagnosed and treated for a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum and a year after a wedge resection of an isolated lung metastasis. He proceeded with total penectomy and intraoperatively two skip lesions were also found within the wall of his urethra; histological analysis proved that these were also metastatic lesions. A perineal urethrostomy was formed with the remaining macroscopically healthy urethra. He made a good recovery from his operation and continued his treatment under the oncology team.

A case of metastatic adenocarcinoma on a background of penoscrotal extramammary Paget's disease

A 77-year-old man presented with a chronic lesion located in the left penoscrotal area. Apart from pruritus, bleeding and an occasional discharge from this area, he also reported reduced appetite and weight loss. Examination revealed an ulcerated skin lesion attached to a firm subcutaneous mass. Wide local excision of the lesion revealed invasive adenocarcinoma on a background of extramammary Pagets disease. Staging studies showed disseminated metastatic disease within the lymph nodes, and liver and bone metastases. He was treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy initially, but then continued only on Carboplatin chemotherapy due to side effects from Paclitaxel. Eleven weeks after the start of his chemotherapy, his restaging imaging showed reduced lymphadenopathy, unchanged liver metastasis and sclerosis of bone metastasis. With completion of chemotherapy, repeat imaging showed stable disease. The patient is currently on follow-up.