title: Median raphe (parameatal) cysts of the penis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although median raphe cysts of the penis have been widely reported the pathogenesis is obscure. We describe the microstructural detection of 3 cases of median raphe to study the true pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients presented to our clinic of plastic surgery complaining of abnormal shape of the penis or mass recurrence. High magnification light microscopy and electron microscopy were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microstructural study revealed that all 3 cases had similar findings to those of the common urethral mucosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Median raphe cysts are derived from the external paraurethral ducts and contain features that to our knowledge have not been previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Showa University Faculty of Medicine, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terauchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery