LAUSR

Invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis is almost always treated with surgical therapy at the primary site. However, almost all other SCC primary sites, such as anal, vulvar, uterine cervix, head and neck, and oesophagus, and their involved nodal basins, can be successfully treated with radiotherapy or combined chemotherapy and radiation, reserving surgery as a salvage option. Review of the penile cancer literature and examination of data from more common SCC primary sites make a case for complete organ preservation of the penis using definitive combined chemotherapy and radiation, reserving surgical therapies as salvage options.Despite the considerable detrimental effects associated with penectomy, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis is most commonly treated with surgery. However, SCC at other locations can be successfully managed using chemotherapy and radiation. Here, Jonathan Tward makes a case for organ-sparing treatments for penile cancer, based on data from treatment of SCC at other body sites.