Modified inguinal lymphadenectomy : short and long term follow up for penile carcinoma

Abstract EN

The aim of the study was to determine the staging and therapeutic benefits of a modified inguinal dissection of patients with carcinoma of the penis with either, clinically negative or limited clinically positive inguinal nodes.

A modified inguinal lymph node dissection in which the saphenous vein was preserved together with reduction of the lateral, distal and proximal margin of dissection was performed on 10 men who had invasive penile carcinoma and either clinically negative or limited clinically positive inguinal nodes (N1).

Two out of 7 patients with clinically negative inguinal nodes had histologically positive nodes.

Of the 3 patients with clinically involved inguinal nodes, one had histologically negative nodes.

One patient with positive node had distant recurrence.

The sites of inguinal involvement were localized within the boundaries of the dissection in all patients.

No major complications, no permanent lymphedema or flap necrosis occurred.

None of the patients developed local recurrence in a follow-up period of 4-84 months (median 37 months).

Conclusion : the modified inguinal dissection is a reliable staging technique that also provides therapeutic benefit to patients with penile cancer and clinically negative or limited clinically positive inguinal nodes.

It can be performed without major troublesome complications.