Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is currently considered the standard technique for obtaining tissue to make a histological diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. Infectious complications following TRUS-guided prostate biopsy are well described, and are reportedly increasing in incidence. The role of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing post-TRUS biopsy infections is now established, and many guidelines suggest that fluoroquinolone antimicrobials are the prophylactic agents of choice. Of note, however, recent reports suggest an emerging association between TRUS biopsy and subsequent infection with fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli. Against this background, we provide an overview of the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of infectious complications following TRUS biopsy, in the wider context of increasing global antimicrobial resistance.

denuded glans penis is then covered with an extra-genital skin graft. Ten patients underwent TGR: six had recurrent erythroplasia of Queyrat after 5% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy; one had no clinical response to 5-FU or imiquimod; one had a severe allergic reaction and therefore could not tolerate 5-FU; and two had extensive glans hyperkeratosis and severe dysplasia. RESULTSThere were no postoperative complications. All skin grafts took successfully, and the cosmetic results were excellent. In all cases, pathological resection margins were clear. To date, there has been no evidence of disease recurrence on follow-up (median 30 months, range 7-45).

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OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) in a consecutive series of penile carcinomas in one centre, as BXO is a common penile disease that usually involves the prepuce and glans, and there have been sporadic case reports of the association between BXO and penile carcinoma, although it is uncertain if there is a specific causal relationship. PATIENTS AND METHODS The reported incidence of penile carcinoma in patients with BXO is 2.6–5.8%, leading some to advocate circumcision in all cases, with close follow‐up in those with persistent glanular disease. We prospectively analysed all cases of penile cancer referred to the unit over a 54‐month period, to determine the prevalence of BXO. RESULTS In all, 155 patients with penile malignancy were reviewed, 44 of whom had BXO (28%). This group included 34 men with squamous cell carcinoma and 10 with carcinoma in situ; in 39, BXO and malignancy presented synchronously. In three other cases, cancer occurred in the background of chronic persistent BXO; in two cases penile cancer was truly metachronous. The tumours with associated BXO tended to be of lower stage and grade, and the patients presented when younger, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION A significant proportion of patients with penile malignancy have a histological diagnosis of BXO. We think that patients presenting with long‐standing BXO and those in whom BXO has not resolved after circumcision warrant biopsies and a careful follow‐up.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the introduction of dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph‐node (SLN) biopsy (used to detect occult lymph node metastases in patients with penile cancer and clinically impalpable inguinal lymph nodes at presentation) at a UK tertiary referral centre for penile cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 75 patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma of stage T1, grade ≥ 2, and unilateral or bilateral impalpable groin nodes, were prospectively enrolled over a 2‐year period. Patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy with 99mtechnetium‐labelled nanocolloid which was injected intradermally around the tumour or into the distal penile shaft skin. Four hours later, the SLN(s) were identified during surgery using a hand‐held γ‐probe and intradermal injections with blue dye. Completion lymph node dissection was subsequently used in patients with tumour‐positive SLNs. RESULTS In all, 255 SLNs were removed from 143 groins; all excised nodes had taken up the radioactive marker, and the blue dye was evident in 87%. Eighteen of 75 (24%) patients and 21 of 143 groins (15%) had a tumour‐positive SLN. All but one patient went on to completion lymph node dissection. Three of these 18 (17%) had further disease in other than SLNs. Six of 143 (4%) groins developed minor complications. One false‐negative result was reported at a median (range) follow‐up of 11 (2–24) months. CONCLUSION This technique is feasible for managing penile cancer in a UK tertiary referral centre. The initial results suggest that it can accurately identify the SLN(s), which can then be removed for pathological review with minimal morbidity.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate medium‐term outcome data from patients with distal urethral cancers treated with penile‐preserving surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analysed prospectively 18 consecutive men referred for the management of urethral carcinoma. All had a specialist review in a supra‐regional multidisciplinary team meeting, where the histology findings were reviewed by one pathology consultant. Tumours were staged according to the Tumour‐Node‐Metastasis classification and the patients offered penile‐preserving surgery when tumours were limited to the glanular or penile urethra. RESULTS All 18 patients were suitable for penile‐preserving surgery; the procedures were: three hypospadias formation with or without topical chemotherapy; four buccal mucosa urethroplasty; three glansectomy and reconstruction; six glansectomy, distal corporectomy, reconstruction and hypospadias formation; two urethrectomy with or with no excision of adjacent tunica albuginea. The mean (median, range) follow‐up was 26 (20.5, 9–58) months. There were no local recurrences; four patients with regional nodal disease progressed and of these, two died from metastatic disease, and one died from an unrelated condition. CONCLUSION Medium‐term data show that penile‐preserving surgery is a feasible treatment for men with distal urethral carcinoma, providing excellent local control without prejudicing survival; a longer follow‐up is needed.

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of sentinel lymph node lymphoscintigraphy (SLNL) and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in patients with penile carcinoma. A prospective study was undertaken of 64 patients with stage T1 (or greater) clinically N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. Patients underwent SLNL and bilateral groin ultrasonography with or without FNAC. Following intradermal blue dye, patients underwent unilateral or bilateral sentinel lymph node excision biopsy (SNB). 17 patients had sentinel nodes that contained metastases (21 nodal basins). Lymphatic drainage was demonstrated in all patients by lymphoscintigraphy. Bilateral drainage was seen in 57/64 patients. 61/64 patients had ultrasonography of the inguinal basins on the same day as FNAC of 38 basins. FNAC showed malignancy in eight basins. FNAC was negative in six basins, which were subsequently shown to be positive following SNB. 82 inguinal basins did not warrant FNAC by ultrasound criteria, of which 5 contained metastases at SNB. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography was 74% and 77%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 37% and 94%, respectively. Two patients had a negative initial SNB; however, ultrasonography identified a metastatic node and re-evaluation of the sentinel node confirmed micro-metastases. There has been no evidence of recurrence in any patients with negative SNB (during 6-28 months' follow-up). In conclusion, when investigating clinically stage N0 penile cancer, the combination of SNB and groin ultrasonography, with or without FNAC, identifies accurately those with occult nodal metastases. Ultrasonography alone is not adequate as a staging technique, and SNB alone might miss between 5% and 10% of metastases.