Early and Late Complications Associated with Penile Cancer Surgery and the Impact of Human Papillomavirus Status: Findings from a Retrospective Norwegian Cohort Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: 1. Complications are common among patients undergoing penile cancer surgery. 2. Most complications are not severe. 3. Human papillomavirus status does not affect the risk of complications. Penile cancer (PeCa) and penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN) are rare diseases, and the burden of complications associated with surgery remains under-reported. The objective was to evaluate the early (≤30 d) and late (>30 d) complications and the impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) status. A retrospective analysis was conducted of a cohort consisting of 201 consecutive and treatment-naïve patients with PeCa/PeIN undergoing surgery (penile sparing, and partial and total amputation) between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2023 at a tertiary centre as part of a centralised regional service. The median follow-up time was 39 (interquartile range 21, 76) mo. The early and late patient complication rates were 45% and 38%, respectively. Of the patients, 18.5% experienced two or more early complications. A majority (80%) of early complications were minor (Clavien-Dindo ≤2). There was a 1% admission rate to the intensive care unit, but no deaths were recorded within 30 d. Body mass index (BMI)was a significant predictor of early complications ( p = 0.01). Late complications included chronic wound irritation (10%) and urethral stricture (11%). The latter was highest among those who had undergone partial amputation. One in four patients underwent reoperation due to recurrence during follow-up. HPV status had no association with the rate of either early or late complications. PeCa surgery is associated with a relatively high complication burden, in both the early and the late postoperative period. Lymph node surgery further adds to the morbidity profile. BMI was a significant predictor of having an early complication, while HPV status did not affect the rate of early or late complications. Penile cancer surgery is associated with a high rate of complications in early as well as late postoperative period. However, most of these complications are not severe. Body mass index was a significant predictor of an early complication, but human papillomavirus status was not associated with the risk of complications.
Source: European Urology Open Science
Institutions: Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen
Language: English
Topic: Genital Health and Disease
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,800
OpenAlex ID: W4407269261