Pathological Investigation of Childhood Foreskin: Are Lichen Sclerosus and Phimosis Common?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate histopathological results of foreskin removed during circumcision in the pediatric age group and the relationship between these and the degree of phimosis.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Department of Urology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey, from June to December 2014.

METHODOLOGY

Male children undergoing planned circumcision were examined for the presence and degree of phimosis which was recorded before the operation. After circumcision, the preputial skin was dermatopathologically investigated. Pathological investigation carefully evaluated findings such as acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, increased pigmentation and atrophy in addition to findings of Lichen Sclerosus (LS) in all specimens. The pathological findings obtained were classified by degree of phimosis and evaluated.

RESULTS

The average age of the 140 children was 6.58 ±2.35 years. While 61 (43.6%) children did not have phimosis, 79 (56.4%) patients had different degrees of phimosis. Classic LS was not identified in any patient. In a total of 14 (10%) children, early period findings of LS were discovered. The frequency of LS with phimosis was 12.6%, without phimosis was 6.5% (p=0.39). The incidence of histopathologically normal skin in non-phimosis and phimosis groups was 37.7% and 22.7%, respectively. In total, 41 (29.3%) of the 140 cases had totally normal foreskin.

CONCLUSION

Important dermatoses such as LS may be observed in foreskin with or without phimosis. The presence of phimosis may be an aggravating factor in the incidence of these dermatoses.