Types of Penile Cancer

Cancer of the penis or penile cancer is a rare disease in which cancer cells or malignant cells are found on the external skin and in the tissues of the penis. It is generally an aggressive form of cancer that has a tendency to spread.

Penile cancer is relatively rare in Western countries; In some South Asian countries, Africa and South America, however it ranks first among malignancies. Although this type of cancer is rare, it is estimated that more than 75% of people older that 60 years are affected by penile cancer. It usually responds well to treatment, and many patients can be cured.

The penis is the external male organ that contains many types of tissue, like skin, nerves, and blood vessels. Penile cancer evolves from a disruption in one or more genes in a cell's DNA. Genes control cell activities including division and growth. When cells die, they are replaced by new cells as the body needs them. However, when the genes that orchestrate this natural replacement process are disrupted by chemicals, illness, or other unknown factors, control over cell division and growth is lost. The resultant uncontrolled mass of tissue is a tumor. The tumor spreads gradually becoming larger in the area of the skin where it first develops. Ultimately, it spreads to deep tissues inside the body of the penis and to lymph nodes in the groin (inguinal area) or pelvis. Different types of penile cancer can develop in each kind of cell.

Types of Penile Cancer

There are several types of penile cancers:

Epidermoid Carcinoma :

95% percent of penile cancer is epidermoid, or squamous cell carcinoma. Epidermoid carcinoma develops from squamous cells. This scale like skin cells can develop anywhere on the organ usually found in the glans but may occur on the corona glandis and rarely, in the preputial cavity.

Verrucous Carcinoma :

Verrucous carcinoma also called Buschke-Lowenstein tumor is an uncommon form of squamous cell carcinoma This low-grade tumor can occur on the genitals, skin, mouth, larynx and anus. These tumors rarely spread outside of the penis and it is often difficult to distinguish this condition from a benign genital wart.

Adenocarcinoma :

A very rare type of penile cancer called adenocarcinoma can develop in thee sweat glands in the skin of the penis.These tumors have the potential to invade below the skin and may eventually spread to lymph nodes.

Melanoma :

Another small percentage of penile cancer can develop in the pigment producing cells of the skin on the penis. These are called melanomas. Melanomas are considered more dangerous because they grow and spread quickly. Usually melanomas develop on sun-exposed areas of the skin, though occasionally they develop on other areas not likely to be sunburned. Usually appear as blue-brown flat growths and tend to spread more rapidly and more widely.

Basal Cell Cancer :

Less than 2% of penile cancers are basal cell cancers and are slow-growing tumors that rarely spreads to other body parts. These tumors develop in skin cells.

Sarcomas :

Sarcomas develop from the blood vessels, smooth muscle and other parts of the penis. About 1% of penile cancers are sarcomas.

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