Penile calciphylaxis: A severe case managed with partial penectomy

Abstract

Penile calciphylaxis, a rare manifestation of calcific uremic arteriolopathy, is infrequently reported in the literature. Surgical management has demonstrated similar outcomes as conservative management in terms of mean survival time. Therefore, the benefits of surgical intervention for this disease remain controversial. In this report, we present a case of penile calciphylaxis in a hemodialysis-dependent patient with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The interest of this case lies in the severity of illness on initial presentation, which precluded the possibility of conservative management and necessitated penectomy as a means of halting disease progression and improving patient quality of life.

Keywords: ESRD; Penectomy; Penile calciphylaxis.

Fig. 1

CT of the pelvis (sagittal view) revealing foci of gas in corporal body of the penis, with overlying soft tissue swelling.

Fig. 2

Intraoperative picture showing the completely necrotic distal glans with viable proximal shaft.