Abstract
ABSTRACTPurpose:The aim of this work is to review and synthesize the existing evidence and recommendations regarding to the therapeutic and surgical indications as well as monitoring of patients with Penile Cancer in COVID-19 era and to propose an action protocol to facilitate decision-making.Material and Methods:A non-systematic review of the literature regarding the management of penile cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic was performed until April 30, 2020. We propose our recommendations based on this evidence.Results:Penile cancer is an uncommon but aggressive disease. Prognosis is determined by several characteristics, being the most important the presence of lymph nodes, in which case, treatment should not be delayed. For these reasons, an initial evaluation is mandatory. Priority classifications, based on the oncological outcomes when treatment is delayed, have been made in order to separate deferrable disease from the one that needs high priority treatment. In penile cancer with low risk of progression, surgical treatment can be delayed, but other options must be considered, like topical treatment or laser therapy. In cases with intermediate risk of progression, surgical treatment may be delayed up to three months, but we must consider radiation therapy and brachytherapy as effective options. When feasible, follow-up should by telemonitoring.Conclusions:In the COVID 19 era, initial evaluation of the patient is mandatory. Histological diagnosis with local staging is necessary before offering any therapeutic option. In case of superficial non-invasive disease, topical treatment is effective in absence of lymph node involvement. In selected patients, radiotherapy is an organpreserving approach with good results. Non-deferrable surgical treatment must be performed by an experienced surgeon and as an outpatient procedure when possible. When indicated, iLND should not be delayed since it is decisive for patient survival. Follow-up should be by telemonitoring.
Highlights
Penile cancer is an uncommon pathology, with an overall incidence, in industrialized countries, of around 1/100.000 males in Europe and USA (1)
Postponement for all outpatient and elective activities to save facilities and resources for urgent cases and COVID-19 patients have been adopted by most hospitals in the affected countries
We navigated through Pubmed, Cochrane library, the American Urology Confederation (CAU) library of COVID-19, we reviewed the European Urology Association (EUA) Rapid Reaction Group recommendations, the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) recommendations, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines and the American Urology Association (AUA) COVID-19 library in search of literature available in English and Spanish until April 30, 2020
Summary
Penile cancer is an uncommon pathology, with an overall incidence, in industrialized countries, of around 1/100.000 males in Europe and USA (1). The incidence is affected by race and ethnicity, with the highest incidence in white Hispanics, followed by Alaskans and native American Indians. In other parts of the World, such as South America, South East Asia and parts of Africa, the incidence is much higher (2). I, JULY, 2020 smoking, phimosis, chronic penile inflammation and multiple sexual partners (3, 4). Winters et al made an analysis of the United States national cancer database from 1998 to 2012, describing that the presence of pathological subtype of the disease, perineural and lymphovascular invasion, depth of the invasion and grade in the primary tumor will determine the prognosis (5)
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