Infectious etiologies of genital elephantiasis outside of filariasis endemic regions: a case report

Abstract

Background

Isolated genital elephantiasis outside filariasis endemic tropical and subtropical regions is rare and presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Serologic and radiographic investigation must be undertaken to exclude reversible causes of genital elephantiasis.

Case presentation

Authors report herein the case of a 58-year-old patient with chronic penile and scrotal elephantiasis. He had a history of untreated urethritis and an endoscopic urethrotomy for urethra stricture three years ago. Serological test for chlamydiosis was positive. Retrograde urethrocystography demonstrated a bulbar urethra stricture. The patient spectacularly and completely improved after endoscopic urethrotomy and long-term doxycycline.

Conclusions

Early treatment of sexual transmitted infections such as chlamydiosis is important to prevent the evolution of penoscrotal elephantiasis and to avoid surgical procedures.

1 Background

Genital elephantiasis is uncommon outside of filariasis endemic regions. It is caused by pathological process affecting the lymph vessels and nodes that leads to lymphatic fluid retention in subcutaneous tissues. It is a very debilitating disease, which causes problems with hygiene, difficulties with urination, loss of copulation function and problems while walking [1].

The etiological diagnosis of genital chronic elephantiasis, outside of filariasis endemic regions, is a very challenging task. The etiologies may be congenital and are due to malformation of lymphatic vessels, or acquired, induced by genital infection (lymphogranuloma venereum) [2], recurrent inflammation [3], neoplasm, irradiation, lymph node dissection, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and idiopathic disorders [1, 2, 4]. Conservative measures may be helpful depending on the underlying cause and stage of the disease. However, it is necessary to emphasize that the most effective treatment is excision of the elephantoid tissues and reconstruction of the defect.

We analyzed the clinical data and reviewed published literature. We performed a bibliographic search on different databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect using the following keywords and MeSH: “Elephantiasis,” “Lymphedema,” “Filariasis” and “Scrotum.”

2 Case presentation

A 58-year-old male presented to the urologist with a 6-month history of a gradually enlarging scrotum and dysuria. The patient had no history of irradiation or travel to filariasis endemic regions. He had history of inadequately treated episodes of urethritis. He had been treated for urethral stricture 3 years ago when he presented with dysuria of one-year duration. No other medical problems were found, and he had not been experiencing significant disability. The physical examination revealed a grossly enlarged scrotum (Fig. 1) with normal inferior limbs. The scrotal skin was hard, thickened and massively edematous. The testes and cord structures were unidentifiable. Inguinal examination had not revealed any adenopathy. Ultrasonography showed the presence of two normal testes. Serological test for chlamydiosis (Elisa anti-chlamydia trachomatis, IgG) was positive. The recent retrograde urethrocystography demonstrated a bulbar urethra stricture and a multiple bladder diverticula bladder (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1

Scrotal lymphedema

Fig. 2

Retrograde urethrocystography showing a bulbar urethra stricture and a multidiverticular elevated bladder

An endoscopic urethrotomy had been performed on the patient, and a 6-week doxycycline treatment was conducted. The elephantiasis disappeared after treatment (Fig. 3). A surgical diverticulectomy will be performed in 3 months.

Fig. 3

Scrotum after 3 weeks of doxycycline treatment

Considering the history of urethritis, serological findings and the clinical improvement we believe that chronic untreated Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the etiology of the genital elephantiasis of our patient.

3 Discussion

The genital elephantiasis is more commonly encountered in tropical and subtropical countries like India [5]. These regions are endemic in filariasis, and lymphatic alterations are mainly due to the infestation by Wuchereria bancrofti. Almost 20% of male population can be affected [5].

Outside of these regions, genital elephantiasis represents a diagnostic challenge. McDougal made a classification of lymphedema of external genitalia which is based on factors such as congenital versus acquired, sporadic versus inherited and age of onset [4]. Identifying the underlying etiology is mandatory because, depending on the cause of the penoscrotal edema, conservative measures such as medical treatment against lymphogranuloma venereum and bancroftian filariasis are helpful and can cure early stages of the disease [6].

In non-endemic countries with filariasis, the neoplastic and congenital origins must be suspected first. Otherwise, the genital elephantiasis is idiopathic or due to infectious diseases. Indeed, the causative agent of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L1-L3, is a lymphotrophic organism which leads to the development of severe alterations in lymphatic channels. Therefore, LGV can be complicated by penoscrotal elephantiasis [2, 7], and 4% of patients with LGV have been reported to develop penile and scrotal elephantiasis as a late complication [8]. Early anti-infectious therapy with doxycycline given orally is important to prevent genital elephantiasis in these cases [1].

Donovanosis, another sexually transmitted infection due to Klebsiella granulomatis, can generate in 5% of patients elephantiasis [9, 10]. Donovanosis should be treated with azithromycin or trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole combination for a minimum of three weeks

Syphilis should also be suspected as a differential diagnosis especially in patients with systemic symptoms accompanied by penoscrotal elephantiasis with a history of genital ulcer [11].

Other inflammatory or infectious diseases are described to cause genital lymphedema such as: recurrent streptococcus infections with resultant post inflammatory changes [2, 12] and hidradenitis suppurative which is a chronic recurrent inflammation of apocrine sweat glands [3]. However, although performing thorough serologic and radiographic evaluation, in many cases no etiology is identified and the elephantiasis is classified as idiopathic.

For advanced stages surgery remains the only solution. Complete excision of all lymphedematous tissue, with preservation of the testes, spermatic cord and the penis, followed by plastic penoscrotal reconstruction is appropriate to avoid recurrence.

4 Conclusions

Scrotal elephantiasis is uncommon outside of filariasis endemic regions. Serologic and radiographic investigation must be undertaken to exclude reversible causes of genital elephantiasis. Early treatment of sexual transmitted infections such as LGV and donovanosis is important to prevent the evolution to penoscrotal elephantiasis. However, in extensive disease, the surgical treatment is mandatory.