Re: Lee JI, Kang WK, Kim HJ, Kim SH, Oh, ST. Unusual metastasis from a rectal adenocarcinoma: penile metastasis. (ANZ J. Surg. 2011; 81: 102)
I read this article with great interest. It is really an unusual and interesting case. Metastatic lesion to the penis is uncommon with approximately 372 cases reported in the literature till 20061. I would like to add few interesting points. The most frequent sign is priapism. Priapism is due to metastatic involvement of corpora cavernosa. Penile metastasis indicates advance form of virulent disease and survival is limited. Authors had mentioned various modalities of management. I would like to state here that dorsal nerve section can also be used as a one of the modalities for the treatment of intractable pain2. Radiation therapy has generally been not successful and chemotherapy has not been extensively studied in sufficient number of patients to warrant recommendation3.
Dr Vipul D Yagnik MBBS MS FMAS
Ronak Endo-laparoscopy and General Surgical Hospital, Patan, Gujarat, India
References
1. Cherian J, Rajan S, Thwaini A, Elmasry Y, Shah T, Puri R. Secondary penile tumours revisited. Int Semin Surg Oncol. 2006; 3: 33.
2. Hill JT, Khalid MA: Penile denervation. Br J Urol 1988; 61: 167.
3. Pettaway CA, Lynch DF Jr, Davis JW. Tumors of the Penis. In Wein: Campbell-Walsh Urology, 9th ed. Philadelphia: SAUNDERS, 2007; ch 31.
