title: Prognostic factors in node-positive carcinoma of the penis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in patients with carcinoma of the penis. In this article, we have reviewed the outcome of the patients with pathologic node-positive carcinoma of the penis after groin dissection performed at the Cancer Institute (WIA) between 1987 and 1998.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case records of all patients who underwent groin dissection for carcinoma of the penis between 1987 and 1998 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1987 and 1998, 128 patients underwent groin dissections for carcinoma of the penis at Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai. Out of them, 102 patients had pathologic node-positive disease. The 5-year overall survival (OS) for these patients was 51.1%. Patients with metastasis only to inguinal nodes had a 5-year OS of 64.6% whereas none of the patients with pelvic nodal metastasis survived for 5 years. Among the pathologically node-positive patients, the factors adversely influencing survival on multivariate analysis were bilateral nodal metastases, number of positive inguinal nodes, pelvic nodal metastasis, and extranodal extension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Groin dissection is an effective treatment for nodal metastasis from carcinoma of the penis. However, innovative approaches are needed for the subset of patients with dismal outlook.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India. durgatosh@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Durgatosh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Vikash
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: R Ravi
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kannan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies