[Reconstruction of tissue defects on the glans penis by transplantation of buccal mucosa].

OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present communication is the presentation of a surgical method for treating tissue defects of the glans penis through free transplantation of a piece of the patient's buccal mucosa. Defects of the glans penis are most frequently formed from excision of a primary tumour or benign lesions through partial or total glansectomy. METHODS During a 2-year period (2004-2005), at the Clinic of Urology of the Medical University, Sofia, 10 patients having penile cancer were diagnosed and treated. Out of these, 6 (60%) were found to be in T1 N0 M0 stage. In 5 (50%) of the said cases, a free mucosa transplant was used to cover the tissue defect remaining after partial or total glansectomy. In 4 (80%) cases buccal mucosa was used, and in 1 (20%) lower lip mucosa. RESULTS The histological results from the operations performed confirmed the staging of the disease, with 4 flat-cell and 1 verrucosa cancer. Within the early post-operative period, no surgical complications were noted, not only at the site of extraction of the transplant, but also at the site of its transplantation. Late complications and relapses have not been observed. CONCLUSIONS Our initial experience utilising the free transplantation of mucosa extracted from the oscular cavity for replacement of a surgical defect after partial or complete glansectomy has proven to be an alternative to the available treatment methods. Buccosa is more suitable in the case of a partial glansectomy because it has a thicker wall.