Carcinoma of the Penis Metastasizing to the Dorsal Spine

Abstract

Carcinoma of the penis tends to have a predictable route of spread by direct invasion and by regional lymphatic involvement to the inguinal group of lymph nodes. Blood-borne distant spread is rare, last to occur, and is seen in 1–3% of cases. Metastasis to the spine is even rarer. We encountered one such case who presented with spinal metastasis, as documented by the whole body bone scan, and this was later followed by involvement of the inguinal nodes. This case is unique in its site of metastatic presentation as well as its pattern of presentation.

Carcinoma of Penis with Metastasis to Right Breast

“…13,14 The review of literature of anecdotal reports suggests metastasis of penile cancer to lungs, liver, brain, skeleton, heart, retroperitoneum, skin of neck, and breast. 6,13,[15][16][17][18][19] In the first reported case of breast metastasis, the patient presented with a 2-cm irregular shaped lump, palpable near his left nipple. 6 The patient reported here, presented to us with an erythematous hard periareolar swelling lying in outer quadrant of right breast.…”

Atypical Chest Pain: An Unusual Presentation of Spinal Metastasis due to Penile Carcinoma

“…Due to the rarity of spinal metastases from penile carcinoma, no definitive guidelines for treatment exist. In the three previously reported cases of spinal metastasis secondary to penile cancer, two were treated with palliative radiotherapy [ 9 , 10 ] and one was treated with surgical resection and stabilisation [ 11 ] due to rapid progression in neurology emergency decompression was deemed most appropriate to reduce permanent and future neurological deficit.…”

Femoral Metastasis from Penile Carcinoma: Report of 2 Cases

“…The rare haematogenous spread to liver, lungs, brain, skin, and bone is associated with a worse prognosis. Metastases to the spine and pelvis have been sporadically described in the literature [ 2 – 5 ]. However, underdiagnosis or underreporting might be frequent, and the exact incidence of these findings is uncertain.…”

“…Most common sites for distal metastases are lymph nodes, liver, and lungs. Bone metastases are rare, mostly localised in the axial skeleton [ 2 – 5 ]. However, indolent skeletal metastatic foci are probably common in patients with advanced disease [ 6 ].…”