This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Goodman, M. T. Articles by Shvetsov, Y. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Goodman, M. T. Articles by Shvetsov, Y. B.

Demographic and Pathologic Differences in the Incidence of Invasive Penile Cancer in the United States, 1995-2003

Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii

Requests for reprints: Marc T. Goodman, Etiology Program, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, 1236 Lauhala Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: 808-586-2987; Fax: 808-586-2982. E-mail: marc{at}crch.hawaii.edu

Objective: Penile cancer is an uncommon malignancy, so few descriptive or analytic studies have been reported in the literature. The objective of this analysis was to describe the distribution of penile cancer in the United States by demographic, pathologic, and clinical features.

Methods: Penile cancer among 6,539 men was identified through 29 population-based registries in the United States during the period 1995-2003. These registries were estimated to represent 68% of the U.S. population. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated per million population using counts derived from the 2000 U.S. census. A subset of nine registries was used to examine time trends in penile cancer between 1973 and 2003.

Results: Squamous cell carcinomas were the most common histologic type of penile cancer, representing 93% of all malignancies. Hispanic men had the highest age-adjusted incidence rates per million for penile cancer (6.58 per million), followed by Blacks (4.02 per million), Whites (3.90 per million), American Indians (2.81 per million), and Asian-Pacific Islanders (2.40 per million). The highest rates of penile cancer were found among Hispanic men (46.9 per million) and Black men (36.2 per million) of ages 85 years. Penile malignancy was rare among males under age 20 years. Time trend analysis supported a significant decrease in the incidence of penile cancer for Blacks (annual percent change, –1.9%) and Whites (annual percent change, –1.2%). The majority (61%) of penile cancers were diagnosed at a localized stage among all racial and ethnic groups, although Hispanic and Black men tended to be diagnosed at more advanced stages than Whites. No racial or ethnic differences in tumor grade were identified. The incidence of penile cancer was highest in the South (4.42 per million) and lowest in the West (3.28 per million) of the United States. The highest age-adjusted incidence rate was found among Black men in the South (4.77 per million) and the lowest rate among Asian-Pacific Islanders in the West (1.84 per million).

Conclusions: This analysis showed significant racial/ethnic and regional variation in the incidence of penile cancer. The high rate of penile cancer among Hispanic and Southern Black men suggests differences in risk factors for this malignancy, such as circumcision, hygiene, or human papillomavirus exposure. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(9):1833–9)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Theodore, I. Skoneczna, I. Bodrogi, M. Leahy, J. M. Kerst, L. Collette, K. Ven, S. Marreaud, R. D. T. Oliver, and for the EORTC Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Group A phase II multicentre study of irinotecan (CPT 11) in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) in metastatic or locally advanced penile carcinoma (EORTC PROTOCOL 30992) Ann. Onc., July 1, 2008; 19(7): 1304 - 1307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]