Neonatal circumcision and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: a report of 3 cases and a review of the literature

Neonatal circumcision is widely considered to have a protective effect against the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis in later life. We report 3 cases of squamous cell carcinoma in men who were circumcised as neonates. The 3 men, aged 49, 55 and 64 years, presented for consideration of brachytherapy. The tumour stage was T3 in I case and T1 in the others. The tumours were moderately differentiated in 2 cases and well differentiated in 1 case. All 3 men had a remote history of penile condylomata acurninaturn 20-30 years earlier. Oncogenic humanpapillomavirus (HPV) was found in the tumour specimen in I case. All 3 were treated with brachytherapy to the primary tumour on the glans. In 2 cases, subsequent staging inguinal node dissection was indicated because of the grade and stage of the primary tumour. A history of remote HPV infection should increase the index of suspicion for any nonhealing penile lesion, despite a history of neonatal circumcision.