“Bone in the penis” or fasciitis ossificans of the penis – a first time description of a pseudo-tumor at an extraordinary site

TL;DR

This paper describes the first case of a rare benign tumor called fasciitis ossificans occurring in the penis, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis in unusual locations.

Contribution

The first documented case of fasciitis ossificans arising from the penis, expanding the known locations for this condition.

Findings

Fasciitis ossificans was confirmed in a tumor on the glans penis through pathological analysis.

Initial misdiagnosis as squamous cell carcinoma highlights the diagnostic challenges of this condition.

The case emphasizes the importance of considering this benign condition in unusual locations.

Abstract

Fasciitis ossificans is a rare subtype of nodular fasciitis, a benign soft tissue tumor with reactive characteristics. Due to its rapid growth, it is often misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor. While fasciitis ossificans commonly originates from the subcutaneous tissue and can appear throughout the body, it may also arise from extraordinary sites.

We report the first-ever documented case of fasciitis ossificans arising from the penis in a male patient who presented with a tumor on the glans penis. The tumor was surgically resected due to suspicion of penile cancer. Initial histopathological analysis led to a misdiagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. However, pathological consultation ultimately confirmed the diagnosis of fasciitis ossificans of the penis originating from the glans penis by demonstrating ossification.

This case underscores the importance of considering fasciitis ossificans in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors, even in unusual locations such as penile soft tissue.

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