Cancer of the penis is an uncommon disease in the western world, but it causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Discussions have tended to centre around issues of local tumor control and the functional status of the penis after treatment. Since November 1982 we have treated localized squamous cell penile cancer (Tis, T1 and T2, Classification UICC, Geneva 1978) with the Nd-YAG laser. Sixteen patients (3Tis, 5T1 and 8T2 tumors) are included in this study with a follow-up of 4 to 36 months (mean 17 months). Eight out of 16 patients were treated with the sapphire probe exclusively, the other eight patients by scalpel excision followed by laser irradiation. No recurrent tumor was observed in 13 patients, one patient developed a recurrence at a non-treated part of the glans penis after 14 months, one patient showed Tis after 5 months near the treated side and in one patient an incomplete laser resection was followed by partial penectomy after 1 month. Sapphire probe laser excision is a safe procedure leading to a good cosmetic aspect with maintenance of the functional integrity of the penis.