Objectives:To evaluate the predictive role ofprimary tumor histopathological features inpredicting inguinal lymph nodes involvement inpatients with penile squamous cell carcinoma.Material and methods:We retrospectivelyanalysed pathological records from 30consecutive patients who underwent penectomyfor invasive squamous cell carcinoma of thepenis. All histological specimens were reviewedby the same pathologist. We considered thefollowing histological parameters: histologicalgrading, growth pattern, deph invasion, tumourthickness, nuclear grading, poorlydifferentiated cancer rate, vascular andlymphatic embolization, eosinophilic andmononuclear infiltration and pathologicalstage.Results:Lymph nodes involvement occurred in 5patients who underwent `early' lymphadenectomyand in other 4 ones during oncologicalsurveillance. Lymph nodes metastasis resultedsignificantly correlated with histologicalgrading (p = 0.005), lymphatic (p = 0.005) andvenous (p = 0.02) embolization, corporacavernosa (p = 0.03) and urethra (p = 0.03)infiltration. Histological grading andlymphatic embolization were independentpredictive variables of lymph nodes involvement(p = 0.02).Conclusions:The histological grading andlymphatic embolization have to be considered asimportant parameters to select patients withpenile squamous cell carcinoma to undergo an`early' lymphadenectomy.