Keloids in male genitalia—Systematic review and illustrative case report

Abstract

Keloid is the maximum expression of pathological fibroproliferative skin wound healing, whose pathophysiology is not yet fully understood. Its occurrence in the perineum and genitalia is uncommon. A systematic review was carried out regarding the occurrence and treatment of keloids on the penis. An illustrative case was also reported. The review used the PRISMA checklist and was registered in PROSPERO. The entire literature period up to April 2023 was searched in the EMBASE/Elsevier, Cochrane, Scopus, Medline, BVS, SciELO, and Lilacs databases. The inclusion criteria embraced primary studies, clinical trials, prospective or retrospective cohorts, case series, case–control studies and case reports. Three hundred and sixty‐one studies were found and 12 of them were included, consisting of 9 case reports and 3 case series. The most common triggering factor for keloid formation was circumcision, in 11 of the cases, of which more than half occurred in prepubescent children. Several therapies, associated or isolated, were used to treat the cases. Only one of the reported patients had scar recurrence after surgical treatment. Studies with better scientific evidence are needed to understand the involvement of keloids in male genitalia. However, keloid formation in this topography is rare, making it difficult to carry out more elaborate studies.