Clinical profile, treatment outcomes, and impact of positive nodes in patients treated for penile carcinoma at a tertiary cancer center: A retrospective study

ABSTRACT Background: Penile carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy with variable incidence and survival outcomes due to geographical and socioeconomic variation. Objectives: The primary objective was to study the clinical profile, treatment pattern, and surgical complications in patients with penile carcinoma. The secondary objectives were to evaluate disease-free and overall survival and to compare them with baseline characteristics. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the data of patients who were treated from January 2013 to December 2021 at Malabar Cancer Center - Postgraduate Institute of Oncology Sciences and Research (MCC-PGIOSR), Kerala. Clinicopathologic details were recorded. Survival outcomes were analyzed and compared with baseline characteristics. Results: During this period, 39 patients underwent radical surgery. The median follow-up period was 60 months. The median age was 62 years. The overall surgical complication rate was 71.8% (28/39), with 16 (41%) grade 1 and 2 and 12 (30.8%) grade 3 or above. Reoperations were required for 3 patients (7.7%) under general anesthesia for wound-related complications. Recurrence occurred in 8 patients (20.5%). The local, regional, and distant recurrence rates were 5.1%, 7.6%, and 7.6%, respectively. There were 11 deaths (28.2%). The 5-year overall survival was 64.2%, while the 4-year disease-free survival was 76.7% with median survival not reached. Conclusion: There was a trend toward earlier disease presentation and improved survival, reflecting growing awareness and improved access to tertiary healthcare in India. Continued efforts to optimize patient education and healthcare delivery are warranted. Refining the extent of inguinal and iliac lymphadenectomy remains important to minimize morbidity.