Case report: corpus cavernosum thrombosis occurring during a long-range aviation mission initially diagnosed as...

A 23-year-old active duty United States Air Force air crew male presented to the flight medicine clinic in Germany after experiencing sudden onset penile pain while flying as part of a long-range operational mission. He was admitted to the German hospital and empirically treated for infection with antibiotics, which did not improve his symptoms. Initial magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis with and without intravenous contrast was reported to be concerning for lymphoma, which prompted transport to a regional medical center in the United States. Further evaluation and review of the pelvic magnetic resonance imaging established a diagnosis of corpus cavernosum thrombosis. Conservative management with 3 months of standard anticoagulation therapy was effective in resolving the patient's symptoms. Corpus cavernosum thrombosis is a rare condition which appears to be associated with prolonged air travel that can easily be misdiagnosed as a much more serious condition; however, once accurate diagnosis is made, it is easily managed and treated.