Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Ventral Penile Papillae (VPP) are benign asymptomatic structures that are found on the skin of the ventral aspect of penile shaft of many adult males; yet, no frank record or description of them is found in the English medical literatures.
OBJECTIVE:
To hit light on the VPP, finds their frequency among circumcised Iraqi adult males, seeks about their associations with other skin conditions, and examines the histological picture.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Forty seven Iraqi circumcised adult males were included in this case descriptive ,comparative study which extended between July 2007-November 2007 was conducted in Department of Dermatology- Baghdad Teaching Hospital. All 47 persons were asked about sociodemographic aspects, medical and skin conditions. They were evaluated clinically regarding different clinical aspects. Statistical data were deduced. Biopsies were done for 8 papillae from 6 persons for histological assessment. Also, 50 circumcised children under the age of 10 years were examined for the presence of these papillae as a control group.
RESULT:
Forty seven males were enrolled the present work, their ages ranged from 14-59(29.72+10.57) years. Twenty five (53.2%) persons had VPP, while 22 (46.8%) subjects showed no papillae. Fifty circumcised children of ages ranged from 3.5-10(5.97+1.42)years, all were lacking the papillae. The papillae were asymptomatic. Shapes of papillae were distributed as follows: skin tag-like papillae were 53.93%, dome-shaped 40.44%, while wartlike in 5.61% of these papillae. Histology was normal apart from finding of dermal encapsulated structures which simulate mechanoreceptor nerve endings, so called Meissner’s corpuscles.
CONCLUSION:
All facts start as speculative thoughts as had been proved by the present study. Ventral penile papillae are normal anatomical and physiological structures that are present in only adult males while completely absent in children. So the age of onset lies during adulthood. The location, morphology, age of onset, and the histology of these papillae are very suggestive of their sexual stimulatory function. Still further physiological and histological studies are strongly recommended.