Novel presentation of intraocular metastases in a patient with penile squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

Abstract

Background The choroid is the most common site for intraocular tumor metastasis because of its abundant vascular supply. However, choroidal metastasis in penile cancer is highly unusual. Here, we report the first case of diagnosis of choroidal metastasis at presentation in a patient with penile squamous cell carcinoma. Case presentation A 43-year-old Asian man with a 3-year history of penile cancer presented with metastasis in the right intraocular sites. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintensity in the T1-weighted images and hypointensity in the T2-weighted images of the right eye. After enucleation of his right eye, histopathological analysis led to a diagnosis of metastatic, moderately differentiated penile squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions Penile cancer typically occurs as penile squamous cell carcinoma, and its most common metastatic sites are the inguinal lymph nodes. Hemorrhagic transfer of tumor cells is extremely rare, especially to intraocular sites. Intraocular metastatic tumors have a unique presentation on imaging, as observed on magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological analysis. This novel finding of intraocular metastasis in penile squamous cell carcinoma is of great significance to optic surgeons and oncologists as it has new implications in the diagnosis of and timely intervention for penile cancer metastasis.