Korean J Urol.  2010 Feb;51(2):149-151.

Delayed Diagnosis of an Intraurethral Foreign Body Causing Urosepsis and Penile Necrosis

• Hwang EC
• Kim JS
• Jung SI
• Im CM
• Yun BH
• Kwon DD
• Park K
• Ryu SB
• Hwang JE

Abstract

Cases of self-inserted foreign bodies in the male urethra and urinary bladder are unusual. In most cases, the type of foreign body can be identified by taking a history or from radiological findings; sometimes, however, it is difficult to identify the foreign body because of decreased mental capacity of the patient or unknown radiological characteristics of the foreign body. We experienced a chronic alcoholic patient with septicemia and penile necrosis in whom a fragment of mirror glass had passed through the urethra into the bladder. The glass, 2 cm in length and 0.7 cm in diameter, was detected by cystoscopy and was removed by using a resectosope.

Keyword

Foreign bodies; Urinary bladder; Urethra; Sepsis

MeSH Terms

Alcoholics
Cystoscopy
Delayed Diagnosis
Foreign Bodies
Glass
Humans
Male
Necrosis
Sepsis
Urethra
Urinary Bladder

Figure

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  FIG. 1 Abdominal computerized tomography (CT). (A) CT was suggestive of a right retroperitoneal abscess, and (B) a needle-like radiopaque lesion between the rectum and bladder.

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  FIG. 2 A necrotic lesion of the penile glans.

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  FIG. 3 (A) Follow-up CT shows a newly detected hyperdense lesion inside the bladder. (B) Cystoscopy shows an intravesical 2×0.7 cm glass particle.

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