Primary Tuberculosis of Glans Penis: a Case Report

An extremely rare form of genitourinary tract tuberculosis (TB) is TB of glans, being reported in 139 cases up to 1971.(1-4) Penile glans may be affected through different mechanisms(1,2,4,5): primary, as an ulcerative lesion of glans; secondary, which is due to TB of other parts in urinary tract system--usually extended through urethra; and finally, hematogenous. Long ago, circumcision was a risk factor when mycobacterium could enter the wounded glans from affected circumcision operators.(3,6) At present, TB of glans in adults is usually a primary or secondary form. Primary glans TB can be acquired by either intercourse with a patient suffering from genital TB, or contact with contaminated fabric. The secondary form is the subsequent complication of lung tuberculosis or other organs involvement.(3) We report a case of primary glans TB, which is, to our best knowledge, the first report in Iran.