Adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the penis: a case report and literature review.

Abstract

Background: Penile cancer is a relatively uncommon malignancy. It is most commonly a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but other non-squamous malignancies, including basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma, metastatic carcinoma and adenosquamous cell carcinoma, have also been documented. Primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the penis (ASC) is an uncommon variant of SCC, accounting for approximately 1-2% of all SCC cases.

Case description: A 77-year-old male presented to The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University with an enlarged penile head, persistent pain, urinary tract infection, and dilute urine, which had progressively worsened over the past month. Specialist examination showed normal penile development without malformation, but the foreskin was long and could not be turned up and was circumcised. The patient underwent surgical intervention, followed by regular reviews and subsequent follow-ups. A review of the literature reveals that only 13 cases have been documented since 1986, and there is a paucity of relevant literature available for review and update.

Conclusions: This paper aims to present a case of ASC in an elderly male with a chief complaint of 'pain' and to provide a comprehensive overview of the aetiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, histopathology, diagnosis and treatment options of ASC. In short, the treatment plan and outcome of this case offer a valuable reference point for the selection and optimisation of treatment modalities for this disease.