Fluorescence-guided laser therapy for penile carcinoma and precancerous lesions: long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
Laser therapy for penile carcinoma is commonly used despite high recurrence rates of up to 48%. The aim of our study was to investigate the long-term recurrence rate of patients treated by fluorescence-guided laser therapy for penile carcinoma and its impact on oncologic outcome.


METHODS
Between 1999 and 2005, a total of 26 patients with premalignant carcinoma in situ (Tis) (n = 11) or invasive penile carcinoma (n = 15) were treated by fluorescence-guided laser therapy in our center. The mean follow-up was 71.1 months (range 41-104 months). Recurrence rate, time to recurrence, and impact on survival was investigated for Tis patients and penile carcinoma patients separately.


RESULTS
No patient died tumor-associated recurrence during follow-up. No local progression of T stage was observed in patients with Tis tumor. In the group with invasive penile cancer, there were 4 (15.4%) local recurrences. However, 3 of them occurred after more than 3 years and, therefore, are more likely to be considered as "de novo" carcinoma. No intra- or perioperative side effects of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Local recurrence rate of laser therapy can be reduced by fluorescence guidance without impairing cosmetic or functional results. The necessary equipment is available in many centers that perform PDD for urothelial bladder cancer. PDD, therefore, can be considered to be cost-effective and easy to perform. Prospective multi-center studies to directly compare recurrence rates between white light and fluorescence-guided laser therapy for penile carcinoma are required.
Schlenker
Boris
B
Department of Urology, University Hospital Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany. boris.schlenker@med.uni-muenchen.de
Gratzke
Christian
C
Seitz
Michael
M
Bader
Markus J
MJ
Reich
Oliver
O
Schneede
Peter
P
Hungerhuber
Edwin
E
Stief
Christian G
CG
Tilki
Derya
D
D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000601:surgery*
D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid