Lichen sclerosus of the male genitalia and urethral stricture diseases.
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.
Barbagli
Guido
G
Center for Urethral and Genitalia Reconstructive Surgery, Arezzo, Italy.
Palminteri
Enzo
E
Balò
Sofia
S
Vallasciani
Santiago
S
Mearini
Ettore
E
Costantini
Elisabetta
E
Constantini
Elisabetta
E
Mearini
Luigi
L
Zucchi
Alessandro
A
Vivacqua
Carlo
C
Porena
Massimo
M
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