Laser surgery for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

We describe our experience with six cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis treated with the carbon dioxide and neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers. One patient had carcinoma in situ. One patient had a T1 tumor. Two patients had T2 disease and two patients had T3 carcinoma of the penis when seen. The patients were followed up from 13 to 64 months. The patients with carcinoma in situ and T1 carcinoma of the penis were tumor-free at a mean follow-up of 45 months. One patient with T2 carcinoma apparently had a complete response to surgery; however, he was seen 56 months after the initial laser treatment with a new invasive penile tumor located at a different site that failed to respond to laser treatment and required a penectomy. Another man with T2 carcinoma as well as the two men with T3 carcinoma failed to respond to laser treatment and required a penectomy. It appears that laser surgery offers the potential for cure in patients with carcinoma of the penis with superficial involvement.