title: Malignant tumors of the penis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although penile cancer is rare in developed countries, it occurs more frequently in other parts of the world and causes significant morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the current literature on the pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical presentation, staging, and treatment of premalignant and malignant tumors of the penis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review using PubMed was conducted searching for articles on penile malignancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of penile cancers are in situ or invasive squamous cell carcinomas, although other rare tumors of the penis occur, such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, extramammary Paget's disease, and soft tissue sarcomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians should be aware of the risk factors and clinical presentation of penile malignancies because early diagnosis is essential in effective management and cure. Accurate staging is imperative for risk stratification and treatment planning. Depending on the type of tumor, size of tumor, location, staging, and grading, treatment modalities vary and may include topical chemotherapy, surgical excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, laser excision or ablation, systemic chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Mary Gail
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mercurio
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors