Topographical Evaluation of Penile Lichen Sclerosus Reveals a Lymphocytic Depleted Variant, Preferentially Associated With Neoplasia: A Report of 200 Cases

Pathology of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis: Back to Square One

The landscape of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCC-P) has undergone a significant transformation since the new World Health Organization classification of genitourinary cancers and recent European Association of Urology/American Association of Clinical Oncology guidelines. These changes emphasize the necessity to categorize SCC-P into 2 groups based on its association with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This shift has major implications, considering that prior knowledge was derived from a mix of both groups. Given the distinct prognosis, treatment options, and staging systems observed for HPV-associated tumors in other body areas, the question now arises: will similar patterns emerge for SCC-P?

Pathological characterization and clinical outcome of penile intraepithelial neoplasia variants: a North American series

Penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN) is classified as human papillomavirus (HPV)- and non-HPV-related. This classification is associated with distinct morphologic subtypes. The natural history and prognosis of PeIN subtypes are not well known. This study aims to evaluate clinicopathological features, HPV status, and outcome of PeIN subtypes. Eighty-two lesions from 64 patients with isolated PeIN were retrospectively reviewed. Mean age was 59 years. Lesions were multicentric in 34% of patients and affected glans (33%), shaft (26%), and foreskin (20%). Histologically, 22% of patients had coexisting lesions, classified as hybrid and mixed. HPV-related PeIN (97%) included basaloid (59%), warty (8%), warty-basaloid (8%), hybrid (19%) and mixed (3%) types. P16 and HPV positivity occurred in 99% and 82% of lesions, respectively. HPV 16 was more common in basaloid PeIN. Multiple genotypes were detected in 35%, more commonly in hybrid PeIN (P = 0.051). Positive margins occurred in 63% of excisions. PeIN recurred in 48% of excisions and 30% of overall repeated procedures, and progression to invasive carcinoma occurred in 2%. At follow-up, 86% of patients had no evidence of disease and 12% were alive with disease. Lichen sclerosus occurred in non-HPV and HPV-related PeIN (100% and 47%).In conclusion, HPV-related and, more specifically basaloid PeIN were the predominant types and preferentially associated with HPV 16. While PeIN had a high recurrence rate, there was a slow and infrequent progression to invasive or metastatic carcinoma with multimodal treatments. Additional studies are needed to understand biology and natural history of PeIN.