Microscopically controlled surgery in the treatment of carcinoma of the penis.

Complete removal of carcinoma of the penis can be achieved by excision of the neoplasm layer by layer and microscopic examination of the entire undersurface of each layer by the systematic use of frozen sections. Microscopic guidance provides substantial assurance of eradication of the primary cancer, and permits preservation of maximal amounts of normal tissue and normal functions. In a series of 29 consecutive cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis the 5-year cure rate among the 25 determinate cases was 68 per cent. The fact that in this series only 1 patient had cancer limited to the prepuce is evidence that circumcision usually is successful for neoplasms so limited. The primary carcinoma was eradicated in 23 of the 25 lesions (92 per cent).