Penile metastases from primary lung cancer

Abstract

Background:Metastasis to the penis from primary lung cancer is quite rare. To improve the understanding, we present a case diagnosed as penile metastasis from primary lung cancer and review the literature.Methods:One case report and retrospectively analysis penile cancer patient secondary from primary lung cancer.Results:The patient complained of perineal pain and burning on urination for about 2 months. On physical examination, painful nodular masses at the base of left side of the corpora cavernosa were found. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) scan showed that maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in left side corpora cavernosa and right hilar increased to 12.0 and 13.5 respectively. On flexible bronchoscopy checking, stenosis of the opening of apical segmental and posterior segmental bronchi of right upper lobe was found. The lateral segmental bronchi of left lower lobe was obstructed by a neoplasm. The pathological result was primary pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC). Two months later, total penectomy was performed. The pathological result was penile ASC derived from pulmonary. On reviewing the literature, there are 39 cases reported. The patient we present is the 40th one. The average age at diagnosis was (60.5 ± 10.7) years old. The most common symptom was mass, followed by priapism, pain. The overall survival time was (4.5 ± 3.9) months.Conclusions:The penis may be a site of metastasis from lung cancer, especially for old patient. Metastasis to the penis usually indicates that the primary lung cancer is at an advanced stage and the prognosis is very poor.

A Rare Case of Penile Metastases as a Harbinger of Primary Pulmonary Adenosquamous Carcinoma

“…Since secondary penile metastases were first reported by Eberth in 1870, a total of just over 500 cases of this rare entity have been reported in the literature [ 3 , 9 ]. Of the primary malignancies attributed to penile metastases, approximately 70–75% originate from regional genitourinary or lower gastrointestinal organs of the pelvis [ 7 , 10 ].…”

“…Early diagnosis of metastatic disease is crucial for staging and treatment planning with common sites of extrathoracic metastases including the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone via hematogenous dissemination [ 2 ]. Although the penis has an abundant and highly complex vascular and lymphatic supply, metastatic disease to the penis is quite rare with just over 500 reported cases of penile metastases reported to date [ 3 – 5 ]. Of these patients, there have been only a total of 40 cases of penile metastases from primary lung cancer with the following histopathologic incidences: squamous cell carcinoma (63%), adenocarcinoma (18%), and a single reported case of adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) [ 3 ].…”

“…Although the penis has an abundant and highly complex vascular and lymphatic supply, metastatic disease to the penis is quite rare with just over 500 reported cases of penile metastases reported to date [ 3 – 5 ]. Of these patients, there have been only a total of 40 cases of penile metastases from primary lung cancer with the following histopathologic incidences: squamous cell carcinoma (63%), adenocarcinoma (18%), and a single reported case of adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) [ 3 ]. Approximately one-third of penile metastases from lung cancer are detected at the time of primary tumor detection with the vast remainder detected several months later, often in end-stage disease [ 3 ].…”

“…Of these patients, there have been only a total of 40 cases of penile metastases from primary lung cancer with the following histopathologic incidences: squamous cell carcinoma (63%), adenocarcinoma (18%), and a single reported case of adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) [ 3 ]. Approximately one-third of penile metastases from lung cancer are detected at the time of primary tumor detection with the vast remainder detected several months later, often in end-stage disease [ 3 ]. Penile metastases are rarely detected prior to the diagnosis of a primary lung cancer with only four cases reported in the current literature [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Approximately one-third of penile metastases from lung cancer are detected at the time of primary tumor detection with the vast remainder detected several months later, often in end-stage disease [ 3 ]. Penile metastases are rarely detected prior to the diagnosis of a primary lung cancer with only four cases reported in the current literature [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]. We report a rare case of penile metastases as the presenting sign of a metastatic ASC of the lung.…”