Lichen aureus of the glans penis as an expression of Zoon's balanitis

Zoon's Balanitis - Update of Clinical Spectrum and Management

Zoon's balanitis or balanitis plasmacellularis circumscripta is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the genital mucosa that can affect both males and females (Zoon's vulvitis). It is not a sexually transmitted disease but can still cause anxiety to the patients because of its chronic nature. Hence, proper diagnosis and early management are necessary. It is a clinical mimicker of other commoner genital dermatoses and is mostly a diagnosis of exclusion when other diseases have been ruled out. It is characterised by a well-demarcated shiny erythematous patch or plaque over the genital mucosa. Histopathological examination becomes necessary when we are unable to differentiate it from premalignant lesions. It reveals lozenge-shaped keratinocytes with siderophages, haemorrhages and variable plasma cell infiltrate in the dermis. Dermoscopy shows spermatozoa-like, convoluted vessels with structureless red orange areas. Response to topical therapy alone is not always satisfactory. However, lasers and surgical management can provide long-term remission.

Vulvar Lichen Planus Presenting as Chronic Vulvar Purpura

Background: There is a broad spectrum of vulvar pigmented lesions that differ based on their histopathological and clinical features. Chronic vulvar purpura is a rare entity, associated with a broad morphological spectrum, from lichen aureus, Zoon's vulvitis, pigmented purpuric dermatosis and with lichen planus as in our case. Case presentation: In this article we discuss a case of an 86-year-old white woman with hyperpigmentation on her upper vulva, next to the introitus, with complaints of urine incontinence. Biopsy revealed subepithelial stromal lichenoid inflammatory infiltrate containing plasma cells, lymphocytes and some neutrophilic granulocytes as well as dilated and congested vessels. Hemosiderin deposits and erythrocyte extravasation were found. There was evidence of hyperkeratosis with hyper granulosis and erosions. Spongiosis was also noted. Few melanocytes were identified with no sign of malignancy. These findings correlate with the diagnosis of vulvar lichen planus. Conclusions: Chronic vulvar purpura is a clinical term used for different chronic inflammatory dermatoses presenting as red bluish or violaceous discolorations on the vulva, often associated with cayenne-pepper-like speckling. Considering a great overlap of possible diseases, the final diagnosis could be challenging. It is important to exclude a melanocytic tumour in these cases.

[Balanitis: diagnosis and treatment]

Balanitis refers to a variety of unrelated conditions. It results from infective, irritative, allergic, traumatic, or inflammatory causes; pre-malignant lesions have been also identified. All these causes are successively reviewed regarding their positive diagnosis and their treatment. Normal aspects of the balanopreputial area will be explained because they may cause some anxiety in certain patients. The difference between the circumcised and uncircumcised penile skin that cause differences in the incidence and appearance of dermatoses of the glans and corona will be studied. Pre-malignant lesions of the balanopreputial area, although not frequent, represent a difficult diagnosis and therapeutic challenge. The major problem is the earliness of the diagnosis that may avoid the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, lichen sclerosus may develop into squamous cell carcinoma and therefore a lifelong follow-up must be implemented. Thus, any fixed, chronic or suspicious Lesion must be rapidly assessed by a biopsy.

Chronic vulvar purpura: persistent pigmented purpuric dermatitis (lichen aureus) of the vulva or plasma cell (Zoon's) vulvitis?

BACKGROUND

Lichen aureus is localized variant of persistent pigmented purpuric dermatitis that typically affects the legs and can be associated with delayed hypersensitivity reactions or vascular abnormalities. Plasma cell vulvitis (Zoon's vulvitis) is a rare condition that frequently contains hemosiderin deposits and is suspected to be a mucosal reaction pattern due to variety of insults, most often local irritation or trauma.

CASE REPORT

A 50-year-old female with longstanding complaints of spotting, vulvar dryness, irritation, and dyspareunia presented with circumscribed, purpuric, erythematous vulvar patches. Past estrogen cream treatment evoked symptoms of discomfort. On biopsy, siderophages and extravasated red blood cells were found in conjunction with a lichenoid, lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltrate, and dilated dermal and intraepithelial vessels.

CONCLUSIONS

Reported herein is an unusual vulvar dermatosis that is best classified as a localized variant of persistent pigmented dermatosis (lichen aureus) but overlaps clinically and histologically with Zoon's vulvitis. This constellation of findings may represent a site-specific mucosal reaction to an erosive process that could either be inflammatory (hypersensitivity reaction) and/or traumatic in nature.

Balanitis of Zoon: a clinicopathologic study of 45 cases

Balanitis of Zoon is a relatively common diagnosis in elderly men, although its nature is controversial and descriptions of its histopathologic features in current textbooks of dermatopathology vary considerably. We studied 45 cases of balanitis of Zoon clinically and histopathologically. The earliest histopathologic changes in cases diagnosed clinically as balanitis of Zoon were slight thickening of the epidermis, parakeratosis, and a patchy lichenoid infiltrate of lymphocytes and some plasma cells. More advanced cases showed atrophy of the epidermis, superficial erosions, a scattering of neutrophils in the upper reaches of the epidermis, scant spongiosis, extravasation of erythrocytes, and a much denser infiltrate with many plasma cells. Additional findings at even later stages were subepidermal clefts, sometimes with loss of the entire epidermis, marked fibrosis of the superficial dermis, and many siderophages. That sequence of histopathologic changes is compatible with the thesis that balanitis of Zoon results from irritation or mild trauma affecting barely keratinized skin in a moist environment. As a reaction to nonspecific stimuli, balanitis of Zoon may be found superimposed on lesions of other diseases and may modify the histopathologic presentation of those diseases to the extent that they are no longer recognizable. In the current study, several cases diagnosed originally as balanitis of Zoon turned out to be examples of allergic contact dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen planus, and squamous cell carcinoma in situ. It is important, therefore, to recognize balanitis of Zoon as a nonspecific pattern that may occur either as an isolated finding or may complicate other diseases affecting the glans penis or prepuce of uncircumcised men.

Penile skin diseases

Many dermatoses become manifest in the genital region. Some of them are specific for this anatomical site; other lesions of the penis are associated with systemic dermatological diseases. Medical history, clinical inspection of the whole integument and optional microbiological or histological examination of the lesions will lead to a correct diagnosis. Dermatoses of the penis (glans penis and/or prepuce) may be symptoms of general diseases or specific alterations of the genital region. The differential diagnoses of penile dermatoses include infections, balanitides, neoplastic diseases, trauma, papulosqamous or systemic diseases, fixed drug reactions, allergic or irritant contact dermatitis and miscellaneous lesions. Since andrologists pay special attention to the inspection and palpation of the male genital region, they should possess knowledge of dermatologically relevant penile lesions.

Dermatoses of the glans penis and prepuce

A wide range of infectious, neoplastic, and inflammatory dermatoses can affect the glans penis or prepuce. Some are unique to the genitalia. Other more common dermatoses may have a unique appearance when they involve genital skin and mucosa. A thorough understanding of regional anatomy and a systematic diagnostic approach are helpful in the management of a refractory penile dermatosis. We review embryology and regional anatomy, drug-induced eruptions, allergic and irritant dermatitis, infection, neoplasia, and traumatic and inflammatory dermatoses as they relate to the glans and prepuce. Our discussion focuses on the clinical features, office laboratory studies, and histopathologic findings that assist in diagnosis and treatment.

Plasma cell balanitis: clinical and histopathological features--response to circumcision

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinicopathological features and response to circumcision in patients with plasma cell balanitis.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

32 uncircumcised men with penile lesions typical of plasma cell balanitis. Twenty specimens were available for histopathology.

RESULTS

Lesions involved prepuce and glans in 17, prepuce only in 10 and in 5 were localised to glans alone or extended to coronal sulcus. Histopathology showed variable features but were consistent with the diagnosis of plasma cell balanitis. Haemosiderin pigment could be detected in only three specimens of patients with shorter duration of the disease. Twenty seven patients were treated with circumcision and no recurrence was noticed in 3 years of follow up.

CONCLUSION

Circumcision is an effective treatment modality in plasma cell balanitis. Absence of haemosiderin pigment in majority of tissue sections is difficult to explain but may be related to longer duration of the disease.

Balanitis circumscripta plasmacellularis

Balanitis circumscripta plasmacellularis typically affects the glans penis and/or prepuce, and presents as chronic shiny smooth red-orange plaques. We report on an uncircumcised man with 2 moist red-orange lesions of balanitis circumscripta plasmacellularis on the glans and penile shaft, which were refractory to topical therapy and systemic antibiotics, and review the literature. Clinical morphology, microscopic features, differential diagnosis, postulated etiologies and treatments are discussed. When balanitis circumscripta plasmacellularis is suspected clinically, diagnosis can be readily confirmed by microscopic examination of the lesion. Differentiating this lesion from similar lesions is essential since it is benign and can be treated relatively easily by circumcision.