Penile metastasis of sigmoid colon carcinoma: a rare case report

BACKGROUND: Metastasis to penis usually arises from genitourinary organs, but in rare cases, metastasis comes from the sigmoid colon. Furthermore, very few cases of penile metastasis of primary sigmoid colon carcinoma have been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We described a case of a 53-year-old man with penile metastasis of sigmoid colon carcinoma along with a review of the literature. Physical examination revealed two subcutaneous nodules on the glans penis. Biopsy of the nodules showed that penile metastasis of sigmoid colon carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Metastasis of sigmoid colon carcinoma to the penis is extremely rare, which presents an advanced form of sigmoid colon carcinoma, therefore survival is extremely shortened. Although treatment of penile metastasis is almost always palliative, it is important to recognize this unusual manifestation so that timely appropriate treatment can be initiated. Early recognition may enhance survival rate of these patients.