Necrobiotic granulomas localised to the penis: a possible variant of subcutaneous granuloma annulare

Three young men developed multiple firm asymptomatic nodules confined to the shaft of the penis. Skin biopsies from all 3 cases showed prominent necrobiotic granulomas indistinguishable from granuloma annulare. One of the patients had repeated recurrent nodules confined to the penis which were removed surgically over a period of 20 months. This unusual, but benign, presentation of granuloma annulare has to be distinguished from other granulomatous and malignant processes which may present as penile nodules.