Pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis: a series of eight cases.

BACKGROUND: Pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis (PEKMB) is a clinicopathological entity characterized clinically by micaceous scale on the glans, and histologically by acanthosis, hyperkeratosis and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. We present a series of eight cases of this rare condition, the first series of more than two cases to be reported. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical and histological characteristics of cases of PEKMB, and evaluate treatments used and clinical course. METHODS: This monocentric case series was conducted at the University College London Hospitals tertiary male genital dermatology clinic between April 2018 and August 2020. Eight patients with PEKMB were evaluated. Data were collected on demographics, clinical presentation, histological features, presence of human papilloma virus (HPV), history of lichen sclerosus, treatment of PEKMB and subsequent response, and presence or development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN) during follow-up. RESULTS: Eight Caucasian males presented with clinical and histological evidence of PEKMB. Seven had a background of lichen sclerosus; two had failed treatment with superpotent topical steroids and four had symptoms for three or more years prior to circumcision. There was no clinical or histological relationship with HPV infection, and p16 staining was negative. HPV PCR, performed in two cases, was negative. Basal atypia, insufficient to amount to PeIN, was present in six patients. One patient progressed to PeIN during follow-up, and no patient progressed to invasive malignancy. Five patients were treated successfully with glans resurfacing and split skin graft reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations demonstrate that PEKMB represents a form of chronic, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, inadequately treated or treatment refractory, unstable lichen sclerosus. The significant potential for squamous carcinogenesis (differentiated PeIN and verrucous carcinoma) can be mitigated by timely diagnosis and treatment. Glans resurfacing and split skin graft reconstruction appears to be a successful treatment modality in patients with refractory disease.

A diagnosis of syphilis following a radical circumcision for suspected penile cancer.

We present a case of a 70-year-old gentleman who was referred to our tertiary 2-week-wait penile cancer clinic with a penile mass that was ulcerated, painful and discharging. This was suspicious for penile cancer and a radical circumcision was performed to remove the diseased foreskin en bloc with the lesion that was arising from the inner foreskin. Histopathology did not reveal cancer; however, we identified spirochaetes in keeping with syphilis. This was confirmed on serology. The patient was referred to the genitourinary medicine team and treated with antibiotics. This case demonstrates a rare presentation of genital syphilis in an elderly gentleman initially referred with concerns of penile cancer. Although, rare, especially in this age group, syphilis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with an ulcerated, discharging, firm penile mass, especially given that the incidence of syphilis has been rising in recent years.

A large dermoid cyst of the spermatic cord.

Dermoid cysts of the spermatic cord are rare, with only a few adult cases published in the literature. We report a patient with a 10cm inguinal mass referred to us for a suspected paratesticular sarcoma. Imaging suggested a cyst but, due to the recent increase in size, the cyst contents were evacuated and the cyst wall was biopsied. Histopathology revealed a dermoid cyst, which is a benign variant of cystic teratomas. Histopathological examination was required here due to the uncertainty. Careful interpretation was required, as cystic teratomas very occasionally undergo a malignant transformation.

Microdissection TESE (mTESE) following adult orchidopexy for undescended intra-abdominal and inguinal testicles - surgical techniques and outcomes from a single-centre cohort.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Adult undescended testicles (UDTs) often present to fertility specialists with subfertility or azoospermia and with either an intra-abdominal or inguinal testicle(s). Performing an orchidopexy followed by a surgical sperm retrieval (SSR) is a potential option to retrieve spermatozoa. A microdissection TESE (mTESE) procedure is performed to retrieve mature spermatozoa for use in ICSI. This paper reviews the outcomes of mTESE in adults following an orchidopexy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort of azoospermic patients underwent adult orchidopexy over a 10-year period at a single specialist centre. Data were collected retrospectively from the patient records retrieved from an institutional database. All patients underwent pre-operative imaging to localize the testicles, serum testosterone levels and a semen analysis. Separate intraoperative testicular biopsies were performed to exclude intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN) and to analyse the Johnsen score. RESULTS: Twelve patients (age range 18-36 years) underwent orchidopexy procedures for either intra-abdominal or inguinal testicles. Mean follow-up was 34 months (range 13-58). Ninety per cent of patients had bilateral UDT with azoospermia. Pre-operative testosterone levels were within the normal range (mean 13.9 nmol/L; range 9.1-24.2). Five pelvic testicles (from four patients) were brought down and underwent a delayed mTESE. A total of nine inguinal orchidopexy procedures were carried out in eight men, and spermatozoa were found and preserved in three patients. None of the men with intra-abdominal testicles had mature spermatozoa present following a delayed mTESE. Overall, SSR was successful in 37.5% of the patients. Histological analysis showed no cases of ITGCN and the Johnsen scores ranged from 1 to 3.3. CONCLUSIONS: Microdissection TESE following orchidopexy for inguinal testicles can result in a successful SSR in over 1/3rd of patients. Intra-abdominal testicles appear to lack spermatogonia although the testicles can still be preserved for endogenous hormone production. Adult orchidopexy allows preservation of endogenous testosterone, easier self-examination and an immediate or delayed mTESE in azoospermic patients.

Testicular pain as an atypical presentation of sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease, with genitourinary tract involvement being very rare (0.2% of all sarcoidosis cases). Genitourinary sarcoidosis may present with a scrotal mass with or without testicular pain, often mimicking epididymo-orchitis or malignancy. Only 8 cases of genitourinary sarcoidosis have been reported in the literature in the last 14 years. We describe the case of a 25-year-old man who was referred with testicular pain. Scrotal ultrasonography demonstrated multiple bilateral hypoechoic testicular lesions that were of similar size and distributed unusually throughout the testicular parenchyma. Computed tomography detected a nodule in the middle lobe of the right lung, multiple small volume nodes in the retrocaval and left para-aortic regions, and enlarged bilateral external iliac and inguinal nodes, similar to those found in metastatic testicular cancer. Following ultrasound guided excision of one of the lesions, histopathological examination confirmed granulomatous inflammation consistent with sarcoidosis.

Abdominal wall ectopic testis torsion mimicking a Spigelian hernia in an adult.

We report an unusual case of an ectopic testis identified in a 37-year-old man presenting with acute severe right iliac fossa pain and an irreducible mass. Initially diagnosed as a Spigelian hernia, computed tomography and ultrasonography identified the presence of an ectopic testis in the abdominal wall. Interparietal testicular ectopia is an extremely rare condition. We present and discuss the first case in the literature of an ectopic testis located between the internal and external oblique muscle layers of the anterior abdominal wall in an adult.

Trial of ligation versus coagulation of lymphatics in dynamic inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy for staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.

INTRODUCTION: The principal advantage of dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy (DSNB) over modified inguinal node dissection is the lower complication rate. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with short-term complications of DSNB in order to lower morbidity of the procedure. METHODS: Retrospective and prospective cohort studies were performed on patients undergoing DSNB between April 2005 and March 2010. Patients were categorised into three groups of 50 (from a total of 250 patients on the database). The patients of Group A, on whom ligaclips were the lymphovascular control technique, were compared with those of Group B, in whom diathermy was used. Incision length, operative time, number of nodes removed, antibiotics and co-morbidities were recorded. A prospective study on Group C, using ligaclips, was also performed. RESULTS: Groups A (88 groins), B (75 groins) and C (68 groins) were explored with complication rates of 5.7%, 24.0% (p =0.0018) and 8.8% (p =0.0277). Co-morbidities, antibiotics (co-amoxiclav 1.2g intravenous as per protocol) and the mean number of nodes removed were similar in all groups. The mean incision length was 4.1cm (standard deviation [SD]: 1.0 cm) for Group A, 5.6 cm (SD: 1.0 cm) for Group B (p =0.0001) and 5.6 cm (SD: 0.8 cm) for Group C (p =0.979). The mean operative times for Groups A, B and C were 15.8 (SD: 8.1), 19.3 (SD: 7.4) (p =0.0043) and 22.1 (SD: 7.7) (p =0.0301) minutes respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphovascular control with diathermy is associated with a statistically higher short-term complication rate compared with ligaclip usage (ie 'permanent' ligation). Lymphocoeles are the principal complication and can result in delayed wound infection and breakdown. A small but statistical increase in operative time and wound length is likely to be related to registrar training.

Osteosynthesis of displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum: a long-term review of 47 cases.

We carried out a retrospective review of 47 intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum treated by open reduction and internal fixation in 45 patients by a single surgeon between 1993 and 2001. The fractures were evaluated before operation by plain radiographs and a CT scan using Sanders' classification. Osteosynthesis involved a lateral approach and the use of the AO calcaneal plate. The mean follow-up was for ten years (7 to 15). Clinical assessment included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS), the Creighton-Nebraska Score, the Kerr, Prothero, Atkins Score and the SF-36 Health Questionnaire. The radiological evaluation consisted of lateral and axial views of the os calcis. Arthritic changes in the subtalar joint were assessed with an internal oblique view and were graded using the Morrey and Wiedeman scale. There were 18 excellent (38.3%), 17 good (36.2%), three fair (6.3%) and nine poor (19.2%) results. Five patients had a superficial wound infection and five others eventually had a subtalar arthrodesis because of continuing pain. Restoration of Böhler's angle was associated with a better outcome. The degree of arthritic change in the subtalar joint did not correlate with the outcome scores or Sanders' classification. Prompt osteosynthesis should be considered for intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum in order to restore the shape of the hindfoot and Böhler's angle.