Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of penile cancer in a hospital-based cohort from southwestern Colombia

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with penile cancer in a hospital-based cohort from southwestern Colombia. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records from the Urology Department of a tertiary hospital in Cali, Colombia, between January 2013 and February 2024. Patients with confirmed penile cancer were identified through ICD-10 codes. Sociodemographic, clinical, pathological, and treatment data were extracted and analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were included. The median age was 61 years (range: 34-95), with most residing in Cali or nearby departments. At diagnosis, 53.2% had cT3-stage tumors, 61.2% had advanced nodal involvement (cN2 or cN3), and 15.1% presented distant metastases. Pathologically, 72.2% had pT3 tumors, while 43% were pN0 after lymphadenectomy. Surgical treatment was performed in 95.2% of patients, mainly partial or radical penectomy. Postoperative complications occurred in 19.5%, primarily Clavien-Dindo grade II. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were administered to 11.6% and 13.5% of patients, respectively. Disease-related mortality was 10.1%. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of patients presented with locally advanced or metastatic disease, reflecting delayed diagnosis and access barriers. These findings highlight the need for public health interventions focused on early detection, sexual health education, and improved referral systems to reduce the burden of penile cancer in Colombia.