A Massachusetts cancer patient became the first U.S. patient to receive a penis transplant, Massachusetts General Hospital announced Monday.
The hospital said 64-year-old Thomas Manning of Halifax, Mass., had the transplant earlier this month and was doing well with the new organ from a deceased donor. Part of his penis was amputated in 2012 as a cure for his penile cancer.
Called a genitourinary vascularized composite allograft, such a transplant has only been performed two times globally, and only once successfully. Surgeons from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine had planned to be the first to do such a procedure on a service member who was injured in combat.
A Hopkins spokeswoman said they are still awaiting a donor.
Doctors at Hopkins and Massachusetts General say that the transplants are not life-saving but loss of the organ can be psychologically devastating. Restoring the natural appearance, as well as urinary and sexual function, are paramount.
"We are hopeful that these reconstructive techniques will allow us to alleviate the suffering and despair of those who have experienced devastating genitourinary injuries and are often so despondent they consider taking their own lives," said Dr. Curtis L. Cetrulo Jr., of the Massachusetts' hospital's division of plastic and reconstructive surgery and the transplant center. "The entire transplant team has worked tirelessly to ensure that our patient is on the path to recovery, thanks in part to the gift of organ donation."
Manning, the patient, said he wanted his story to help others who may benefit from subsequent procedures.
"Today I begin a new chapter filled with personal hope and hope for others who have suffered genital injuries, particularly for our service members who put their lives on the line and suffer serious damage as a result," Manning said in a statement. "In sharing this success with all of you, it's my hope we can usher in a bright future for this type of transplantation."