Penile Cysts and Canals

Abstract

To the Editor.— We read with interest the article of Powell et al (Archives113:1250-1251, 1977), entitled Apocrine Cystadenoma of the Penile Shaft. In Fig 3, the authors describe columnar epithelium with decapitation secretion; however, their photomicrograph appears to show transitional epithelium. We are in the process of reporting our experience with seven cysts and one epitheliallined canal of the penis, which were seen during the past three years. The lesions were lined by transitional epithelium in six of our cases and by stratified squamous epithelium in two cases. We feel that these lesions correspond to what has previously been reported as congenital canals and cysts of the genitoperineal raphe.1 These lesions, which are usually midline and ventral, may occur anywhere from the urethral meatus to the anus. Cysts and canals of the median raphe represent defects in the embryological development of the genitalia and may be lined by epithelium