Objective: To evaluate whether serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) measurements may be of use in identifying nodal metastases in patients with SCC of the penis after treating the primary tumour.
Patients and methods: The levels of SCCAg were analysed in 11 men with penile SCC between 1994 and 2001.
Results: An elevated SCCAg level had a sensitivity of 57% (95% confidence interval, CI, 18-90%) and a specificity of 100% (CI 40-100%) for nodal metastases. Levels of SCCAg increased exponentially in patients who developed nodal metastases after treatment of the primary tumour, and were elevated before clinical or radiological evidence of nodal disease.
Conclusion: Either the absolute level or the rate of rise of SCCAg may be a useful tool with which to follow patients after excision of the primary tumour. It may be more sensitive than computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in detecting recurrence, but further evaluation is needed.