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
Review
. 2022 Mar 14:11:S2239253X22037422.

Pigmented median raphe cyst of the scrotum. A rare pediatric case and review of the literature

  • PMID: 36606457
Review

Pigmented median raphe cyst of the scrotum. A rare pediatric case and review of the literature

Cristina Martucci et al. Ann Ital Chir. .

Abstract

Aim: Median raphe cyst are uncommon malformations of male genitalia, in which are rarely described melanin pigments or melanocytes; less than ten cases have been reported in literature. The aim of our study is to describe a rare ormations, case of pigmented median raphe cyst of the scrotum, successfully treated in our hospital.

Case experience: A 6-years-old boy underwent surgical removal of a melanocytic lesion of the ventral surface of the scrotum in Day Surgery regimen. He reported no surgical complication or recurrence.

Results: Histology showed multiple cystic nodules, lined by squamous and pluri-stratified columnar epithelium, some of which contained melanic deposits and were anti-MART-positive.

Discussion: Even though the first case has been reported in 1985, the etiology of median raphe cysts remains unclear. Infrequently associated with trauma or infections, these lesions seem to origin from an abnormal development of the periurethral glands or atypical closure of the median raphe. Rarely melanin pigments or melanocytes are described in the histological examination, and the cause of the pigmentation is still unknown.

Conclusion: Median raphe cysts present a non-negligible variety of clinical presentations and histological features. Pigmented ones represent the rarest form: further studies may be necessary to clarify their pathogenesis and describe their clinical evolution.

Key words: Median raphs, Male genitalia, Malformations.

Scopo dello studio: Le cisti del rafe mediano rappresentano una rara malformazione dei genitali maschili; in pochissimi casi (meno di 10 riportati in letteratura) presente nella lesione una componente melanocitica o pigmenti di melanina. Lo scopo del nostro studio quello di descrivere un raro caso di cisti pigmentata del rafe mediano dello scroto, trattata con successo presso il nostro nosocomio.

Caso clinico: Il paziente, di 6 anni di et , presentava una lesione cistica e melanocitica della superficie ventrale dello scroto; stato sottoposto ad asportazione della cisti in regime di Day Surgery e non ha mostrato, con un follow-up di 5 anni, alcuna recidiva n complicanza chirurgica.

Risultati: L’analisi istologica della lesione ha mostrato multipli noduli cistici, caratterizzati da un epitelio squamoso pluristratificato, che conteneva depositi di melanina ed esprimeva positivit per anti-MART.

Discussione: Nonostante il primo caso sia stato descritto nel 1985, l’eziologia delle cisti del rafe mediano risulta ancora ignota. Raramente associati ad infezioni o trauma, tali lesioni sembrerebbero originale da un anomalo sviluppo delle ghiandole periuretrali o da una chiusura patologica del rafe mediano. Solo in pochi casi sono presenti melanociti o pigmenti di melanina all’esame istologico e la causa di tale pigmentazione non ancora chiara.

Conclusioni: Le cisti del rafe mediano mostrano un’ampia gamma di presentazioni cliniche e di aspetti istologici. Le forme pigmentate rappresentano una minima percentuale: ulteriori studi sono necessari per chiarirne la patogenesi e descriverne la naturale evoluzione clinica.

PubMed Disclaimer