Diseases of Male Genital Tract

Diseases of Male Genital Tract

Diseases of Male Genital Tract

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Penile & Scrotal Path - Pointy & Pouchy Problems

  • Penile Inflammatory Conditions:
    • Balanitis: Inflammation of glans.
    • Balanoposthitis: Inflammation of glans & prepuce.
    • Phimosis: Inability to retract prepuce. Paraphimosis: Retracted prepuce cannot be returned (⚠️ emergency).
  • Penile Premalignant Lesions (Often HPV-related, esp. HPV 16):
    • Bowen's Disease: SCC in situ on shaft/scrotum; grey-white plaque.
    • Erythroplasia of Queyrat: SCC in situ on glans/prepuce; single/multiple red, velvety plaques.
    • Bowenoid Papulosis: Younger patients; multiple reddish-brown papules; rarely progresses to invasive SCC.
  • Penile Malignant Tumors:
    • Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Most common (>95%). Risk factors: HPV (16, 18), phimosis, poor hygiene, smoking.
    • Verrucous Carcinoma (Buschke-Löwenstein tumor): Exophytic, locally invasive, low metastatic potential.
  • Scrotal Conditions:
    • Hydrocele: Serous fluid in tunica vaginalis.
    • Varicocele: Dilated pampiniform plexus veins (📌 "bag of worms" feel).
    • Scrotal SCC: Associated with poor hygiene, chronic irritation (e.g., soot exposure in chimney sweeps).

⭐ Erythroplasia of Queyrat is a specific form of squamous cell carcinoma in situ occurring on the glans penis or prepuce, strongly associated with HPV infection.

Testicular Tumors - Germ Cell Jamboree

  • 95% are Germ Cell Tumors (GCTs); peak incidence 15-35 years. Presents as painless testicular mass.
  • Risk factors: Cryptorchidism, family history, Klinefelter syndrome, prior GCT.

Seminoma vs. NSGCT Overview

FeatureSeminomaNSGCTs
Age (Peak)30s-40s20s-30s
GrossHomogenous, grey-whiteHeterogenous, hemorrhage, necrosis
SpreadLymphatic (paraaortic)Early hematogenous (esp. Chorio)
RadiosensitiveHighLow (chemosensitive)
AFPNegativeOften ↑ (YST, Embryonal Ca)
hCG~10-15%Often ↑ (Chorio, Embryonal Ca)
Key Histo"Fried egg" cells, lymphocytesVaries: Schiller-Duval (YST), etc.
-   AFP: ↑ Yolk Sac Tumor (YST), Embryonal Ca.
-   hCG: ↑ Choriocarcinoma, Embryonal Ca, ~**10-15%** Seminomas.
-   LDH: Non-specific; tumor burden.
-   PLAP: Seminoma, Embryonal Ca.
-   OCT3/4: Seminoma, Embryonal Ca.

Seminoma histology: fried egg cells

⭐ Seminomas are classically AFP negative; presence of AFP strongly suggests a non-seminomatous component or a mixed GCT.

Prostate Pathology - Gland Gone Wild

  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

    • Common in older men; non-premalignant.
    • Zone: Transitional (periurethral) → LUTS (hesitancy, urgency).
    • Patho: ↑DHT → stromal & epithelial hyperplasia.
    • Histo: Nodular glandular & stromal proliferation.
    • Complications: Obstruction, UTI, bladder hypertrophy.
    • Rx: α1-blockers, 5α-reductase inhibitors, TURP. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia histology
  • Prostatitis

    • Inflammation: Acute/Chronic bacterial (E. coli), CPPS (most common).
    • Symptoms: Dysuria, pelvic pain; fever (acute).
  • Prostate Adenocarcinoma

    • Most common male cancer (excluding skin).
    • Zone: Peripheral (posterior) → DRE palpable.
    • Risk: Age, African-American, family Hx.
    • Screening: PSA (↑ > 4 ng/mL suspicious), DRE.
    • Histo: Infiltrative glands, prominent nucleoli, perineural invasion. Gleason score (prognostic).
    • Spread: Bone (osteoblastic 📌), obturator nodes.

    ⭐ Most prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas arising in the peripheral zone.

  • Flowchart: Prostate Cancer Workup

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Cryptorchidism ↑ risk of seminoma & infertility.
  • Testicular torsion: Acute hemorrhagic infarction from cord twisting; Bell-clapper deformity predisposes.
  • BPH: Transitional zone origin, causes urinary obstruction; not premalignant.
  • Prostate adenocarcinoma: Typically peripheral zone; Gleason score for prognosis.
  • Seminoma: Most common germ cell tumor; radiosensitive, fried egg cells, ↑PLAP.
  • Yolk Sac Tumor: Common in children <3 yrs; Schiller-Duval bodies, ↑AFP.
  • Choriocarcinoma: Aggressive; early hematogenous spread, markedly ↑hCG.

Practice Questions: Diseases of Male Genital Tract

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_____ disease (of the vulva and nipple) is characterized by malignant epithelial cells in the epidermis

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_____ disease (of the vulva and nipple) is characterized by malignant epithelial cells in the epidermis

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