Surgical Management of Penile Calciphylaxis Without Penectomy

Calciphylaxis, a rare and life-threatening condition, involves the calcification and occlusion of microvasculature, leading to tissue ischemia and necrosis. The pathophysiology of calciphylaxis remains complex, but it is often associated with derangements in calcium and phosphate metabolism, ultimately resulting in the deposition of calcium within small blood vessels. This process leads to compromised blood flow, tissue hypoxia, and subsequent skin necrosis and ulceration, often with catastrophic consequences. While calciphylaxis typically occurs in individuals with end-stage renal disease (uremic calciphylaxis), it can also afflict those without renal impairment (non-uremic calciphylaxis). Several risk factors predispose individuals to this condition, including diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism, malignancies, warfarin-based anticoagulation, alcoholic liver disease, and autoimmune disorders. Understanding the etiology, risk factors, and clinical manifestations of calciphylaxis is critical for timely diagnosis and management to mitigate its devastating effects. Management includes sepsis control, wound debridement, and analgesic support.  We report a case of penile calciphylaxis in a 58-year old male with a past medical history significant for end stage renal disease on hemodialysis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The patient presented with a painful lesion on the glans penis which rapidly progressed to necrosis and gangrene with wet features. The patient refused partial penectomy and wanted conservative management with local wound debridement and antibiotics.