ABSTRACT
Prognostic Indicators The overall prognosis of penile cancer depends on the stage and histological grade of the primary tumor and the presence or absence of lymph node metastases. For men with the very earliest stage, that is penile carcinoma in situ, over 90% will be alive at five years. The most important prognostic factor is the presence and degree of lymph node involvement. The prevalence of nodal disease is related to the stage of the primary lesion and occurs in 20% of T1 penile cancers and in 47% to 66% of T2-T4 tumors. For men who have metastases limited to one inguinal lymph node, just over 80% will live for at least five years. If more than two inguinal lymph nodes or lymph nodes in the abdomen are positive then around 40% live for at least five years. Distant metastases are uncommon at the time of clinical presentation, occurring in <3% of cases and are associated with a poorer prognosis.
