Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: accuracy of tumor, nodes and metastasis classification system, and role of lymphangiography, computerized tomography scan and fine needle aspiration cytology.

Among 118 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis treated at our cancer institute between 1956 and 1989, we analyzed the accuracy of classification, using the tumor, nodes and metastasis system. We analyzed the role of lymphography, computerized tomography and fine needle aspiration cytology as additional staging procedures. The primary tumor (T category) was classified incorrectly in 26% of the cases. Overstaging was noted in 10% of the cases because of unsuspected infiltration and overstaging was noted in 16%. Overstaging occurred because of edema and infection masking the actual size and giving a misconception of infiltration, and also because of primary presentation as large exophytic tumors with no or minimal histopathological infiltration. When the regional lymph nodes were categorized simply as positive or negative 80% of the tumors were classified correctly and 20% incorrectly (13% were false positive and 7% were false negative). Regional lymph node invasion that escaped clinical examination was not detected by any imaging examination or fine needle aspiration cytology study. Positive findings were found only in patients with clinically suspected nodes. The classification of regional nodes by clinical examination only is hardly improved by additional imaging studies. Clinical decisions with respect to the management of regional lymph nodes should not be based on negative findings of lymphangiography, computerized tomography or fine needle aspiration cytology. In patients with proved metastasis additional imaging may be of some help in the detection of pelvic node invasion and the determination of the extent of involvement. We recommend lymphangiography as the examination of choice.