A Clinicopathological Study of Scrotal Calcinosis and Literature Review

Abstract

Objective. We aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features and pathogenesis of scrotal calcinosis. Methods. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained slides were performed on 14 patients with scrotal calcinosis, and the clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed together with clinical data. Meanwhile, 81 patients with extrascrotal calcinosis cutis and 7480 patients with epidermoid cysts without calcification in the skin of various parts of the body were collected and analyzed to explore the etiology and pathogenesis of scrotal calcinosis in conjunction with the literature review. Results. All our patients were adult men with a mean age of 38.2 years, with clinical manifestations of multiple scrotal nodules of varying sizes, microscopically characterized by intradermal calcium deposits, of which 3 lesions had a cystic cavity lined with squamous epithelium. Conclusions. Scrotal calcinosis is a rare benign disease that presents clinically as single or multiple hard nodules in the scrotum, usually asymptomatic, and it is histopathologically characterized by intradermal calcium deposition. There is still controversy as to whether it is idiopathic. We believe that scrotal calcinosis is not idiopathic and originates from epidermoid cysts. Prolonged local compression or injury may be one reason for the development of calcification, and perhaps there are other unknown factors contributing to the development of the disease. Surgical excision is the main treatment for this disease with satisfactory therapeutic effectiveness.