Penile Ulcer: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin and mucous membranes [see differential diagnoses, e.g.:
        • Furuncle – purulent inflammation of hair follicles or sebaceous glands.
        • Genital herpes – chronic, lifelong persistent viral disease, which in most cases arises from a primary infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2, sometimes by herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (in about 30% of cases).
        • Herpes zoster (shingles)
        • Infected epidermal cyst – originating from the hair follicles, several millimeters to two centimeters in size, prallelastic, skin-colored cysts that grow slowly and can become infected
    • Inspection and palpation of the genitals (penis and scrotum (scrotum); assessment of pubescence (pubic hair), penile length (between 7-10 cm when flaccid), and testicular position and size (using orchimeter if necessary)). [See under differential diagnoses:
      • Balanitis (acorn inflammation), mycotic (“fungal”) or bacterial]
    • Inspection and palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (belly), inguinal region (groin region), etc. (pressure pain?, knock pain?, release pain?, cough pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knock pain?)
    • Digital rectal examination (DRU): examination of the rectum (rectum) and adjacent organs with the finger by palpation (assessment of the prostate in size, shape and consistency, detection of indurations (tissue hardening) if necessary).
  • Cancer screening
  • Urological examination

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.