Balanitis Circumscripta Plasmacellularis

Excerpt

Balanitis circumscripta plasmacellularis, also called Zoon balanitis or plasma cell balanitis, is a chronic, idiopathic, reactive balanoposthitis that occurs in uncircumcised men and is thought to be secondary to a dysfunctional foreskin, characterized by silent symptoms and florid signs. Professor Johannes Jacobus (J.J) Zoon, a Dutch dermatologist, originally described this distinctive benign penile dermatosis in 1952. The dysfunctional foreskin is thought to trap heat, smegma, and moisture, predisposing the person to chronic infection and irritation. This benign condition must be differentiated from other benign conditions (eg, sexually transmitted infections, drug reactions, and other dermatoses), and it must also be discerned from erythroplasia of Queyrat, a neoplastic disease. A similar clinical condition has been described in women, named vulvitis circumscripta plasmacellularis.