Diagnosing and Staging Patients with Penile Cancer

Penile cancer presents as a lesion that can be papillary, nodular, ulcerative, flat or fungating. It is often asymptomatic though pain, discharge and bleeding are associated with advanced disease. There are several risk factors for penile cancer and a detailed clinical history should be taken. A careful clinical examination and biopsy are required for diagnosis. Imaging studies such as CT, MRI and PET scan can help with the staging and additional work up. Invasive inguinal lymph node staging is required in patients with high-risk lesions.