Carcinoma of the penis | |
---|---|
Specialty | Oncology |
Frequency | 36,068 in 2020[1] |
Deaths | 13,211 (2020)[1] |
Penile cancer, or penile carcinoma, is a cancer that develops in the skin or tissues of the penis. Symptoms may include abnormal growth, an ulcer or sore on the skin of the penis, and bleeding or foul smelling discharge.[2]
Risk factors include phimosis (inability to retract foreskin of the penis), chronic inflammation, smoking, HPV infection, condylomata acuminate, having multiple sexual partners, and early age of sexual intercourse.[3]
Around 95% of penile cancers are squamous-cell carcinomas. Other types of penile cancer such as Merkel-cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and melanoma are generally rare.[4] In 2020, it occurred in 36,000 men and caused 13,000 deaths.[1]