Melanoma of glans penis and urethra: A case report and systematic review of the literature of a rare and complex neoplasm

• Published in: Urologia 2023-11, Vol.90 (4), p.766-774
• Main Authors: Franceschelli, Alessandro, Palmisano, Franco, Gentile, Giorgio, Vagnoni, Valerio, Zannetti, Guido, Cipriani, Riccardo, Colombo, Fulvio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0391-5603; 1724-6075
• DOI: 10.1177/03915603211046471

Objective: To evaluate the features and prognosis of melanoma of glans penis and urethra, with the presentation of a significant case report. Materials and methods: A systematic literature review was performed using the MEDLINE (PubMed) and Cochrane Libraries databases to identify all cases of male mucosal melanoma reported. Results: Two hundred fifty-two patients with male mucosal primary melanoma were found. Glans penis and fossa navicularis as primary site includes the 81.6% of all lesions considered. Median Breslow’s depth is 2.1 mm, whereas nine in situ melanomas have been reported. At the diagnosis, the disease was at a non-localized stage in 21.4% for glans penis melanomas and 11.7% urethral lesions, respectively. The 2 and 5-year survival for glans melanoma is 62.5% and 38.4%; higher rates were observed in the 2012–2020 period (76% and 58.8%, respectively). Two-year survival for urethral melanomas is 66.7%, while 5-year survival is 12.5%. 22 patients survived over 5 years with a Breslow’s depth reported always