title: Lichen sclerosus of the male genitalia and urethral stricture diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The true incidence of urethral involvement in patients with genital lichen sclerosus (LS) is unknown. We review the epidemiology and discuss the pathogenesis of LS and urethral stricture diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period 1991-2002, of 925 patients who underwent urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture, 130 patients (14%) received the diagnosis of LS. In all patients with LS the histology was re-examined to confirm the clinical diagnosis. Retrograde and voiding urethrography was used to establish urethral involvement in the disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 106 patients (82%) the histology provided the classical features of LS, and 24 patients (18%) showed some histological variations. In 49 patients (37%) the LS involved the pendolous urethra (meatus-navicularis-penile), and in 53 cases (41%) a panurethral stricture was evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LS urethral involvement appears to be a much more common and extensive disease than previously reported, and requires particular care in its early diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Urethral and Genitalia Reconstructive Surgery, Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbagli
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palminteri
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balò
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vallasciani
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mearini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Constantini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mearini
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zucchi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vivacqua
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology