Inguinal lymphadenectomy and primary groin reconstruction using rectus abdominis muscle flaps in patients with penile cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The use of deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEA) rectus abdominis muscle flaps in conjunction with inguinal lymphadenectomy to treat patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis having high-volume inguinal lymph node metastases causing skin breakdown and secondary infection is described.


METHODS
Three patients with invasive SCC of the penis who had extensive unilateral inguinal nodal metastases with skin breakdown and secondary infection underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy and attempted wide resection of the superficial and deep inguinal lymph nodes. One patient had unresectable deep inguinal metastases and received postoperative radiation therapy. A DIEA rectus abdominis muscle flap was utilized to close the resulting groin defect.


RESULTS
Pathologic analysis demonstrated no pelvic lymph node metastases in any of the patients, superficial inguinal lymph node metastases in 1, and superficial and deep inguinal lymph node involvement in 2. All wounds healed well. The 2 patients with deep inguinal metastases experienced local disease progression. One patient died 7 months postoperatively of complications from chronic renal failure but had no evidence of tumor recurrence or wound problems. Another patient died of recurrent disease.


CONCLUSIONS
A rectus abdominis muscle flap may be a useful adjunct for managing certain patients with penile cancer and extensive suppurative inguinal lymph node metastases.
Bare
R L
RL
Department of Urology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Assimos
D G
DG
McCullough
D L
DL
Smith
D P
DP
DeFranzo
A J
AJ
Marks
M W
MW
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011292:Premedication; D017568:Rectus Abdominis; D012086:Reoperation; D013492:Suppuration; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014945:Wound Healing