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Treatment of Stage II Penile Cancer
Source: Penile Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 7, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
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Stage II penile cancer is defined by the following TNM classifications:[1]
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T1b, N0, M0
T2, N0, M0
T3, N0, M0
Treatment options:
Stage II penile cancer is most frequently managed by penile amputation for local control. Whether the amputation is partial, total, or radical will depend on the extent and location of the neoplasm. External-beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy with surgical salvage are alternative approaches.[2-6]
Nd:YAG laser therapy has been used to preserve the penis in selected patients with small lesions (under clinical evaluation).[7]
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Because of the high incidence of microscopic node metastases, elective adjunctive dissection of clinically uninvolved (negative) lymph nodes in conjunction with amputation is often used for patients with poorly differentiated tumors. Lymphadenectomy can carry substantial morbidity, such as infection, skin necrosis, wound breakdown, chronic edema, and even a low, but finite, mortality rate. The impact of prophylactic lymphadenectomy on survival is not known.[8-11]
To reduce the morbidity associated with prophylactic lymphadenectomy, dynamic sentinel node biopsy is used in patients with stage T2 clinically node-negative penile cancer. One retrospective, single-institution study of 22 patients reported a false-negative rate of 11%.[12]
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice