1. ¹Department of General Surgery, Urology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
2. ²Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Correspondence: Professor R Minervini, Department of General Surgery, Clinica Urologica, c/o Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Ospedale S Chiara, Via Roma 67, Pisa, Tuscany 56122, Italy. E-mail: r.minervini@ao-pisa.toscana.it

Received 16 February 2009; Revised 21 April 2009; Accepted 21 April 2009; Published online 21 May 2009.

Abstract

Using our prospectively derived database, we identified 17 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma involving the glans penis, who were treated using organ-sparing surgery between March 2003 and January 2008. Of them, two were treated with partial glansectomy with primary glans closure, and 15 underwent total glans amputation and reconstruction of a new glans using a split-thickness skin graft (STSG). These 15 patients represent the subject of our study (mean age 51 years, range 42 to 59 years). Overall, two patients had early partial loss of the graft and of them, one required surgical regrafting. Two late complications occurred, consisting of one meatal stenosis and one postoperative phimosis. At a mean follow-up of 36 months, functional results were extremely satisfactory. All patients maintained their erectile function with good vaginal penetration starting from 3 months after surgery, with a range between 2 and 6 months. Orgasm and ejaculation were preserved in all patients, although reduced glans sensitivity was reported by all patients. No local recurrences were reported.