Patient's question:
My little brother has developed some hard lumps on his penis. It doesn't hurt much, but it makes the penis look a bit deformed. I've actually searched online and it's said that the most likely condition is penile plaques. But I'm not entirely sure, so I wanted to consult a doctor. The help I hope to receive: What are the symptoms of penile plaques?Doctor's answer:
Peyronie's disease, also known as penile fibrosing cavernitis, has an unclear etiology and may be associated with sexually transmitted diseases, chronic urethritis, repeated minor injuries during sexual intercourse, and hereditary factors. Long-term use of propranolol, as well as conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, chronic alcoholism, ankylosing spondylitis, and cirrhosis, may be triggers for the disease. Peyronie's disease is composed of dense connective tissue, containing a small number of elastic fibers and fibrotic fibroblasts, as well as a few blood vessels and white blood cells. In patients with a longer course of the disease, calcium deposits may even form, or cartilage or bone tissue may develop.