Prognosis of primary mucosal penile melanoma: a series of 19 Dutch patients and 47 patients from the literature.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the clinical features, prognostic factors, and survival of male patients with primary mucosal melanoma on the glans penis, meatus, fossa navicularis, and distal urethra.

METHODS

We analyzed the clinical features, prognostic factors, and survival of 66 male patients with primary mucosal melanoma on the glans penis, meatus, fossa navicularis, and distal urethra diagnosed over the past 25 years. Data from our series of 19 patients were combined with those of 47 patients reported in the literature.

RESULTS

The overall 2 and 5-year survival rates were 63% and 31%, respectively. All patients with nodal and/or distant metastases at presentation died within 2 years. Presence of ulceration, tumor depth of 3.5 mm or more, and tumor diameter greater than 15 mm had a significantly adverse effect on prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of primary mucosal penile melanoma is not worse than that for cutaneous melanoma with comparable tumor thickness. Treatment should be similar to that for cutaneous melanoma, with wide radical excision and sentinel node biopsy in clinically lymph node-negative patients.