Clinical features of lichen sclerosus in men attending a department of genitourinary medicine.

OBJECTIVES To characterise the clinical presentation and response to treatment of lichen sclerosus (LS) in men attending a department of genitourinary medicine. METHODS A case note review of all men attending a GUM department over a 32 month period, who had been diagnosed as having LS. RESULTS 66 men were seen with genital LS. The mean age at diagnosis was 36.5 years but symptoms had been present for up to 10 years before the diagnosis was made. 55 men underwent biopsy and the diagnosis was made histologically in 47 of these men. At the time of presentation 30% of men had no symptoms relating to their LS. All were treated with potent topical steroids and surgery was avoided in nearly all of them. CONCLUSIONS LS is not uncommon in men presenting to a GUM department, and is often asymptomatic. The disease responds well to potent topical steroids allowing the normal anatomy to be preserved in most individuals.