A surgical challenge: Idiopathic scrotal elephantiasis

Authors

  • Hilary Laurel Brotherhood University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences
  • Michael Metcalfe University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences
  • Larry Goldenberg University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences
  • Peter Pommerville University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences
  • Cameran Bowman Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia
  • David Naysmith Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.1739

Keywords:

scrotal, lymphedema, elephantiasis

Abstract

Scrotal elephantiasis is a condition rarely encountered in developed nations. It is endemic in tropical regions due to the presence of filariasis (Wucheria bancrofti). We report 2 cases of idiopathic scrotal elephantiasis in Canadian citizens with no history of travel to endemic filariasis regions, malignancy, surgery or radiation. Both patients underwent complete excision of the involved tissue with reconstruction. We found that for advanced cases of scrotal lymphedema, surgery is currently the only solution. In our cases of advanced idiopathic disease, surgical treatment combining the expertise of a plastic surgeon and a urologist provided a successful functional and cosmetic result.

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Author Biographies

Hilary Laurel Brotherhood, University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences

Urology Resident, University of British Columbia Department of Urological Sciences

Michael Metcalfe, University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences

Urology Resident, University of British Columbia Department of Urological Sciences

Larry Goldenberg, University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences

Head of Department of Urological Sciences, University of British Columbia

Peter Pommerville, University of British Columbia, Department of Urological Sciences

Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Urological Sciences, University of British Columbia

Cameran Bowman, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia

Clinical Associate Profession, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of British Columbia

David Naysmith, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia

Clinical Associate Profession, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of British Columbia

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Published

2014-07-18

How to Cite

Brotherhood, H. L., Metcalfe, M., Goldenberg, L., Pommerville, P., Bowman, C., & Naysmith, D. (2014). A surgical challenge: Idiopathic scrotal elephantiasis. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 8(7-8), e500–4. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.1739

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 7-8 (2014): CUAJ July

Section

Case Series

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