Early penile-only metastasis of urothelial bladder carcinoma

Abstract

Penile metastasis rarely occurs as a unique and early distant recurrence of urothelial bladder carcinoma. A 77-year-old male underwent a radical cystoprostatecomy for a pT3a urothelial bladder cancer. Preoperative imaging workup concluded to a disease confined to the bladder. The patient consulted 5 months later for a penile induration. Computed tomography imaging revealed a suspicious penile nodule with no other nodal or visceral lesion. Total penectomy after a confirmatory biopsy confirmed the infiltration of the corpora cavernosa, the corpus spongiosum and the urethra by a urothelial metastasis of bladder cancer. Distant recurrences after radical surgery for locally advanced bladder cancer may occur as a unique early metastasis located to the penis. Lay abstract We hereby present the case of a 77-year-old male who presented with a recurrence of his bladder carcinoma located solely to the penis. This was confirmed by dedicated imaging. The patient had undergone a radical cystoprostatectomy for an invasive bladder tumor 5 months earlier. The imaging workup performed preoperatively concluded that the tumor was confined to the bladder. The definitive pathological report concluded then to a complete resection of the bladder tumor.