Epidermoid cyst of the penis: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Penile cysts are uncommon. A case of a 7-year-old boy with an epidermoid cyst of the penis is reported. He had an asymptomatic, slowly growing soft mass in the frenulum of the penis. Excision of the mass was performed, and the diagnosis was epidermoid cyst of the penis. No recurrence has been noted within the year since excision. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of malignancy developing in cystic disease of the penis. In such cases, clinicians should attempt more appropriate management, involving either watchful observation or complete excision of the cyst, by considering the embryogenesis and nature of the disease.

A new term: complete preputial agenesis

“…Several congenital external genital anomalies related with the skin of the penis and prepuce such as disproportionate preputial growth, epidermoid cyst, and phimosis have been reported previously [3][4][5][6]. However, no cases of complete preputial agenesis have been reported in the literature.…”

Penile epidermal inclusion cyst

“…3 On reviewing the English literature on Internet we could find only one case report of penile epidermoid in a pediatric patient. 5 Epidermoid cysts may formed by several mechanisms. They may result from the sequestration of epidermal rests during embryonic life, occlusion of the pilosebaceous unit, or traumatic or surgical implantation of epithelial elements.…”

“…1 Although cutaneous epidermoid cysts are common lesions, penile localization of them is quite rare. [2][3][4][5] Epidermoid cyst of the testis is a well-described entity. In the literature, case of epidermoid cyst on the dorsum of the penile shaft has been described.…”

A unique scrotal extratesticular epidermod cyst attached to the seminal vesicles

“…5 Although there are many theories about histo- It has been reported in any place from the cranium to the anus in midline. 2,4 Epidermoid cyst is one of the benign lesions in the scrotum, and most published cases are located within the testes; this makes it a challenge to the patient and surgeon in terms of preserving the organ. Scrotal and extratesticular epidermoid cysts, as was the case in our patient, are very rare; the number of cases published in the English literature is less than 10.…”

“…3 Genital extratesticular cysts are very rare and may be encountered anywhere from the distal penile frenilum to the anal canal, having a discrete, painless lump. 4 We present a unique intrascrotal extratesticular epidermoid cyst extending to the seminal vesicles.…”