Penoscrotal Lymphedema Secondary to Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Abstract

Abstract:Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease affecting the cutaneous apocrine glands and resulting in their obstruction [1]. This enigmatic disease causes recurrent episodes of infection, edema, scarring, and fibrosis of surrounding tissues. We present the unusual case of a 58-year-old white male with fifteen years of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) complicated by the occurrence of penoscrotal elephantiasis.

Letter to the Editor referring to Hessam et al. – Squamous cell carcinoma arising in hidradenitis suppurativa: subclinical lymphedema may have favored the tumor onset

“…Lymphedema arising in the setting of chronic HS/AI has been described in literature predominantly in the penile, scrotal, and less frequent, in the vulvar skin, leading to scrotal elephantiasis, massive enlargement of the penis and vulva [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . Thus, taking the described concept of Ruocco et al into conclusion, the development of SCC would most likely be expected in the areas of most severe lymphedema.…”

“…In other words, long-standing HS is a typical example of an immunocompromised district. The immunocompromised cutaneous district is a novel concept, delineated by Ruocco et al [ 10 ] , that applies to an area of diseased or injured skin where local immune control has been altered, thereby permitting the development of a dysimmune reaction, infection, or tumor confi ned to the diseased or injured site [ 11,12 ] . Lymphedema is a well-recognized cause of cutaneous immunodestabilization.…”