[The morphological changes in the skin of the prepuce in patients with xerotic balanoposthitis]

The authors analyze the findings of histologic and electron-microscopic examinations of skin biopsy specimens from 15 patients with xerotic balanoposthitis. The results evidence that xerotic balanoposthitis morphologically is characterized by atrophy of the epidermis, vacuolar dystrophy of the basal cells, changed structure of keratohyalin granules, presence of a vast edematous area under the epidermis, absence of elastic fibers, inflammatory cellular infiltrate under the edematous area. During initial manifestations of the disease and its progressive stage more manifest changes are detectable in the derma. Atrophy of the epidermis was not observed, a lesser edematous area was seen under the epidermis, and, in contrast to the typical pattern of sclerotic and atrophic lichen, a dense, more superficially located cellular infiltrate in the derma. Small-granular substance is detectable in the edematous area under the epidermis, as are numbers of microfibrils and this diffusely located collagen fibrils that indicate synthesis of fibrillar substances.