Pathology

Pathology

Carcinoma of the penis is most typically a squamous cell carcinoma arising in the skin of the glans penis or the prepuce. It may be flat and infiltrating or warty in appearance. The former often starts as leukoplakia or PeIN; the latter results from an existing papilloma. Local growth continues for months or years. T1 tumours are confined to the skin, with T2 tumours invading the corpus spongiosum or the corpus cavernosum. T3 /uni00A0 tumours invade the urethra and T4 tumours invade adjacent structures. The earliest lymphatic spread is to the inguinal nodes (N1 and N2 disease) and then to the iliac nodes (N3 disease). Distant metastatic deposits are infrequent.