A Rare Case of Juvenile Gangrenous Vasculitis of the Scrotum in Korea

Abstract

Juvenile gangrenous vasculitis is characterized by the abrupt onset of scrotal ulcerations in young males, preceded by fever and pharyngeal symptoms. The etiology of this disease is poorly understood. The course is benign and self-limiting within a few weeks with no relapse. Because of its rare incidence, physicians often confuse it with Fournier's gangrene, which progresses rapidly to severe systemic symptoms requiring urgent surgical intervention. Herein, we report a rare case of juvenile gangrenous vasculitis of the scrotum and emphasize the importance of awareness of this diagnosis to avoid unnecessary invasive surgical intervention. A 17-year-old boy presented with painful and tender, diffuse erythema and swelling with a necrotic lesion on the scrotum for three days. Preceding the cutaneous manifestations, he had a fever and sore throat. Physical examination showed an about 2 cm-sized well-demarcated necrotic lesion on the anterior scrotum. Laboratory findings revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis with an elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. On scrotal ultrasonography, only edematous skin thickening and an increase in vascularity were observed. Histopathological examination showed epidermal necrosis and dermal neutrophilic infiltration. Empirical antibiotic treatment with ampicillin/sulbactam and clindamycin was administered and a prompt clinical resolution was observed.

Keywords: Gangrene; Scrotum; Vasculitis.