Modified Radical Ingurnal Lymphadenectomy For Penile Cancer

Objective to decrease the postoperative complications by presenting a modified technique of the radical inguinal/ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer with satisfying dissection range as the tranditional standard technique demands for.Methods 25 patients with penile cancer underwent our modified inguinal lymphadenectomy from 2000 to 2008 were reviewed. In the group, dissection was include both the superficial and deep inguinal lymph nodes. The key aspects of the procedure were: shorter skin incision, the relatively thicker flaps developed just beneath Scarpa's fascia, the preservation of the saphenous vein, the elimination of the need to transpose the sartorius muscle, and the translocation of the testis and spermatic cordas to cover the thigh vessels as a compensation.Results The total number of bilateral inguinal lymph nodes dissected was 432. The pathology revealed that 68 % cases positive with metastasis (29 positive nodes in 17 patients). Only one patient encounted wound infection, high fever, skin necrosis and other late complications. Local complications occurred in 24 % cases. There was no serious complications as dreadful flap necrosis , injury of the femoral vessels or lymphocele happened. 5-Year Progression-free Survival Rate and Overall Survival Rate were 72% and 76%. Conclusions The modified radical inguinal lymphadenectomy decreases the complications and relieve the morbidity, while the dissection extent needed by radical treatment is secured.