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. 2008 Jun;11(2):79-81.
doi: 10.1016/j.jus.2008.03.002. Epub 2008 May 16.

Sonographic features of penile-gland lithiasis

Affiliations

Sonographic features of penile-gland lithiasis

F M Solivetti et al. J Ultrasound. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

A 52-year-old man presented with a small, red, tender swelling near the penile frenulum at the lower edge of the base of the glans. Lower urinary tract symptoms were absent. Ultrasonography revealed a stone lodged in the distalmost portion of the glands of Littre. Combined with a good knowledge of penile anatomy, use of this simple imaging tool allows reliable diagnosis of even the rarest cases of penile pathology.

SommarioUn uomo di 52 anni presenta una piccola tumefazione dolente e rossastra, situata in prossimità del frenulo penieno, sul margine inferiore della base del glande, insorta da alcuni giorni, non rispondente a terapia antibiotica, in assenza di sintomatologia ostruttiva delle basse vie urinarie.L'indagine ecografia rivela la presenza di un calcolo dell'estremo distale di una ghiandola del Littre. L'asportazione della formazione litiasica risolve immediatamente la sintomatologia dolorosa e il paziente viene dimesso dopo 72 ore di terapia antibiotica.Il nostro è il primo e unico caso, descritto in letteratura, di litiasi della ghiandola del Littre. Una buona conoscenza anatomo-patologica e clinica unita alla corretta applicazione delle potenzialità delle apparecchiature ecografiche consente di giungere a diagnosi difficili e misconosciute.

Keywords: Lithiasis; Littre-gland stone; Penile glands; Ultrasound.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
An oblique sonographic scan of the distal portion of the glands of Littre, where inflammation was most intense, clearly reveals the stone, which is surrounded by fluid and purulent material.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Transverse–oblique scan of the base of the glans shows a well-defined stone surrounded by a hypoechoic halo representing inflammation. Color Doppler studies revealed low-intensity peripheral vascular signals. Proximally, the lumen of the gland displays ectasia.

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