Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2018 Nov/Dec;93(6):881-883.
doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20187462.

Thalidomide in plasma cell balanitis refractory to conventional topical treatment

Lucas Mariano Serrão  1 , Karina Demoner de Abreu Sarmenghi  1 , Barbara Christina Bonino Pereira Pinto  1 , Paulo Bittencourt de Miranda  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Thalidomide in plasma cell balanitis refractory to conventional topical treatment

Lucas Mariano Serrão et al. An Bras Dermatol. 2018 Nov/Dec.

Abstract

Zoon's plasma cell balanitis is a chronic genital inflammatory dermatosis that affects uncircumcised men, especially the elderly. It's characterized by painless erythematous plaques of orange hue, located on the glans penis and foreskin. Circumcision is the most effective treatment; however, it can be hard for patients to accept. As an alternative, topical calcineurin inhibitors are used, with good response. This article reports the case of a 32-year-old patient, HIV carrier, diagnosed with Zoon's plasma cell balanitis. Treatment with topical tacrolimus was administered, without improvement. A 6-week course of thalidomide resulted in complete remission of the lesions, without recurrence after eight months of follow-up.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Before treatment. Bright, moist, poorly delimitated erythematous plaque located on the glans penis and foreskin
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histopathological exam. Epidermis with regular acanthosis and exulcerated area; superficial and middle dermis with dense, diffuse plasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate (Hematoxylin & eosin, x10)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histopathological exam. Lymphocytic infiltrate with some eosinophils and microvascular proliferation (Hematoxylin & eosin, x40)
Figure 4
Figure 4
After a six-week course of thalidomide. Remission of the lesion with residual erythema
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Delgado L, Brandt HR, Ortolan DG, Patriota RC, Criado PR, Belda Junior W. Balanite plasmocitária de Zoon: relato de dois casos tratados com pimecrolimo. An Bras Dermatol. 2011;86:35–38. - PubMed
    1. Andrade SMF, Lorenski FR, Pinto DCS, Tebcherani A, Pontes MC. Laser fracionado de CO2 e ácido fusídico na balanite de Zoon: relato de caso. Surg Cosmet Dermatol. 2012;4:189–191.
    1. Dayal S, Sahu P. Zoon balanitis. A comprehensive review. Indian J Sex Transm Dis. 2016;37:129–138. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kumar B, Narang T, Dass Radotra B, Gupta S. Plasma cell balanitis: clinicopathologic study of 112 cases and treatment modalities. J Cutan Med Surg. 2006;10:11–15. - PubMed
    1. Weyers W, Ende Y, Schalla W, Diaz-Cascajo C. Balanitis of Zoon: a clinicopathologic study of 45 cases. Am J Dermatopathol. 2002;24:459–467. - PubMed

Publication types