Perineal lipoma in association with scrotal anomalies in children.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the characteristics of the perineal lipoma and speculate on its development, as an associated perineal lipoma is implicated in the occurrence of scrotal anomalies in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Five children with a perineal lipoma in association with various scrotal anomalies were included in the study. We analysed the types of scrotal anomalies and their anatomical relationship with the perineal lipomas.

RESULTS

One child had a supra-inguinal ectopic scrotum, and the others had penoscrotal transposition, either symmetrical or asymmetrical; they included two who had an accessory scrotum combined with a perineal lipoma. The perineal lipoma was on the ipsilateral side of the upward-positioned hemiscrotum in the ectopic scrotum or the asymmetrical penoscrotal transposition, or it was on the mid-perineum in the symmetrical penoscrotal transposition.

CONCLUSIONS

The perineal lipoma can be found combined with various scrotal anomalies, including ectopic scrotum as well as an accessory scrotum or penoscrotal transposition; this is the first report describing a perineal lipoma associated with an ectopic scrotum. We speculate that the development of the perineal lipoma is closely related to scrotal anomalies, which result from early division and/or abnormal migration of the labioscrotal swelling. The concomitant perineal lipoma might be formed during the process, and might affect abnormal scrotal development.