Urologie pro praxi 4/2017

Phimosis in boys caused by balanitis xerotica obliterans

We present a case report of a 13-year-old boy with undiagnosed balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO), resulting in urinary retention, paradoxical ischuria, and difficult placement of indwelling urinary catheter. Total circumcision with ventral and dorsal meatotomy was completely curative, with no need for local corticosteroids. BXO is a neglected and underestimated diagnosis in boys. Despite being the most common cause of secondary pathological phimosis in boys, BXO is often considered to be scarring phimosis only and mistakenly indicated for partial circumcision by some paediatric specialists.

Keywords: balanitis xerotica obliterans, lichen sclerosus, phimosis, circumcision, local corticosteroids.