Buried penis and morbid obesity

Abstract

Three morbidly obese men aged 69, 49 and 45 years with respective BMIs of 46.3, 49.1 and 59.3 died suddenly from underlying cardiovascular disease. At autopsy all were found to have marked penile shortening typical of an entity known as “buried penis.” This condition arises in adulthood most commonly from morbid obesity as the penile shaft becomes enveloped by encroaching suprapubic adipose tissue. It is associated with infective, obstructive and malignant complications. Histology will be required to identify less-common causative conditions or any inflammatory or premalignant/malignant changes.