Objective: Young males with lichen sclerosus (LS) commonly present with phimosis; complete urinary obstruction has also been described in this population, but is much rarer. We present the case report of a boy with acute renal failure secondary to urethral obstruction caused by LS, with a review of the literature regarding the occurrence of complete urinary obstruction and renal failure associated with this disease process.
Materials and methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE to characterize the association of lichen sclerosus with significant obstructive complications of the urinary tract.
Results: The true incidence of LS is unknown. Reported rates have ranged from 10% to 95% of boys presenting with phimosis. Our review identified 14 cases of complicated urinary obstruction (seven in children) and two cases of renal failure secondary to lichen sclerosus (both in boys).
Conclusions: Distinctive features make this inflammatory process identifiable to the astute physician, such that new onset of phimosis in a school-age boy should raise clinical suspicion of the diagnosis. Successful outcomes, with medical and/or surgical therapy, are commonplace in this cohort. If undiagnosed, however, progression of LS can lead to significant morbidity in the form of renal failure.