Extensive penile glans and corpus spongiosum necrosis due to catheter traction following laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy: a rare case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Penile glans and corpus spongiosum necrosis is an extremely rare urologic condition associated with substantial morbidity. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case presenting extensive penile glans and corpus spongiosum necrosis following catheter traction in a 71-year-old male patient who had a laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The patient has no preexisting diabetes mellitus or chronic renal failure. The case was successfully managed with penile preservation. During the procedure, it was observed that the necrosis was not limited to the glans. The necrosis had spread to the entire penile urethra and corpus spongiosum, and an excision of approximately 14 cm of corpus spongiosum was performed. CONCLUSION: This is the first case presenting extensive length of penile glans and corpus spongiosum necrosis managed successfully with penile preservation, enabling reaching the best functional and esthetic results reported in the literature. Early detection and urgent imaging with a high index of suspicion ensure a favorable outcome. The main treatment steps are careful evaluation, appropriate therapy, and prompt intervention depending on the severity.