Squamous cell carcinoma at the site of a Prince Albert's piercing.
BACKGROUND
Medical practitioners should be aware of genital piercing and its potential complications. General piercings are associate with complications common to all piercings as well as some unique to urethral piercings. Specifically, the association between carcinoma and genital piercing is not well recognized.


OBJECTIVE
The present study is a report of two cases describing squamous cell carcinoma associated with genital piercing.


METHODS
Case reports of two men admitted to an academic medical center.


RESULTS
A 60-year-old man with a history of HIV and hepatitis C as well as a Prince Albert piercing presented for treatment of a urethrocutaneous fistula. A biopsy of indurated granulation tissue surrounding the fistula revealed invasive, moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A 56-year-old man with a history of HIV, hepatitis C, and a Prince Albert piercing presented following a single episode of gross hematuria. He also reported splitting of his urinary stream. On physical examination, areas of necrosis were noted on the glans penis; biopsy revealed invasive, poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study is the first to suggest a possible association between squamous cell carcinoma of the penis/urethra and genital piercing. Patients with genital piercings, especially those with concurrent risk factors such as HIV and HCV, should be counselled about this rare complication.
Edlin
Rachel S
RS
Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: Rachel.Edlin@gmail.com.
Aaronson
David S
DS
Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Wu
Alex K
AK
Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Blaschko
Sarah D
SD
Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Yang
Glen
G
Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Erickson
Bradley A
BA
Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
McAninch
Jack W
JW
Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
D001706:Biopsy; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D014521:Urethra / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014523:Urethral Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery