Aphallia

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Aphallia is a medical condition in which the phallus (penis or clitoris) is congenitally absent.[1]

Contents

[edit] Incidence/prevalence

It is a rare condition, with only approximately 60 cases reported as of 1989,[2] and 75 cases as of 2005.[3]

[edit] Causes

Aphallia is a rare birth defect of unknown cause. It is not linked to deficient hormone amounts or action, but rather to a failure of the fetal genital tubercle to form between 3 and 6 weeks after conception. The urethra of an affected child opens on the perineum.

[edit] Prognosis and treatment

Although aphallia can occur in both males and females, it is considered a substantially more troublesome problem in a male, and has in the past sometimes been considered justification for assigning and rearing a genetically male infant as a girl.

Recent advances in surgical phalloplasty techniques have provided additional options.[4][5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Aphallia. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
  2. ^ Skoog SJ, Belman AB (1989). "Aphallia: its classification and management". J. Urol. 141 (3): 589–92. PMID 2918598. 
  3. ^ Chibber PJ, Shah HN, Jain P, Yadav P (2005). "Male gender assignment in aphallia: a case report and review of the literature". Int Urol Nephrol 37 (2): 317–9. doi:10.1007/s11255-004-7974-0. PMID 16142564. 
  4. ^ De Castro R, Merlini E, Rigamonti W, Macedo A (2007). "Phalloplasty and urethroplasty in children with penile agenesis: preliminary report". J. Urol. 177 (3): 1112–6; discussion 1117. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2006.10.095. PMID 17296424. 
  5. ^ Descamps MJ, Hayes PM, Hudson DA (2007). "Phalloplasty in complete aphallia: pedicled anterolateral thigh flap". J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2007.04.014. PMID 17574944. 
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