BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze the histologic features of the prepuce with phimosis and the incidence of lichen sclerosus (LS) causing phimosis. METHODS: Our prospective study included 40 male patients from 05 to 14 years of age, with phimosis referred for circumcision. The patients were distributed into two groups: those with primary phimosis and those with secondary phimosis. The patients were operated at Joana de Gusmão Children's Hospital, and the specimens were examined separately by 3 pathologists. In accordance with their histopathologic features, patients were distributed into three groups: normal histologic findings, lichenoid infiltrate and LS. RESULTS: The clinical intercurrences most frequently reported by our patients with phimosis were balanoposthitis and urinary tract infection (UTI). Most patients (65%) did not present with histologic alterations of the skin; in 22.5% we found lichenoid infiltrate; and 12.5% had alterations typical of LS. Most cases found belonged to the acquired group, representing 57.5% of the patients studied. All LS cases occurred in the acquired group. The main surgical indication in our casuistry was failure of clinical treatment (45%), followed by balanoposthitis (25%), narrowing of the prepuce (17.5%), UTI (10%) and associated urinary diseases (2.5%). CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that LS, as the cause of phimosis, showed an incidence of 12.5%.
circumcision; phimosis; lichen sclerosus et atrophicus
