Penile swelling: An unusual presentation of Crohn's disease

Abstract

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease characteristically known to affect the gastrointestinal tract anywhere from mouth to anus. While extraintestinal manifestations such as uveitis and arthritis are relatively common, penile Crohn's disease is a far less common manifestation. Moreover, the onset of cutaneous and mucosal lesions typically proceeds involvement of the bowel. We present the case of a 14-year old-male who presented with a 2-month history of penile swelling. A genital biopsy of the lesion demonstrated non-caseating granulomas consistent with penile Crohn's disease. Our patient responded well to infliximab therapy. Unusual presentations can make the diagnosis challenging, and therefore highlights the importance of histopathological examination if clinically suspected to avoid delays in diagnosis and commencement of treatment. The most efficacious treatments for penile Crohn's disease remains largely unknown due to limited data in this area.L6347382492021-04-15 <br />