Sıtkı Utku AKAY
Turkish Journal of Oncology - 2026;41(1):86-92
Penile cancer, which is a very rare neoplasm, is a malignancy that causes devastating physical and psychosocial effects in patients. The aim in penile cancer treatment is to provide optimal organ preservation without decreasing the oncologic control rate. Cure rates are very high in early stage disease. Brachytherapy can be applied in organ-sparing approach in early stage disease. In the majority of the studies, brachytherapy is applied with an interstitial implant. In the studies in which brachytherapy was applied with mold, similar results were obtained as in the studies in which implants were applied. Although LDR was mostly used as the dose rate, successful results were also obtained in studies using PDR and HDR techniques. It is seen that the Paris system was mostly preferred as dosimeter system. In most of the studies, a median dose of 60 Gy was applied. In recurrences after brachytherapy, which is a treatment with a high local control rate, control rates with amputation are quite high. Most of the treatment-related toxicities can be managed with conservative treatment. Considering literature data, brachytherapy is an effective and tolerable treatment option in organ-preserving approach in early penile cancer.
