CIRCUMCISION IN TREATMENT OF CHANCROIDAL LESIONS OF MALE GENITALIA

Abstract

In 1929 a group of 537 cases of lesions diagnosed as chancroidal infections of the male genitalia was reported from the dermatologic service of the Cleveland City Hospital.¹These cases were all those of penile chancroidal infection observed for a period of four and a half years (July 1924 to January 1929). In an effort to decrease the length of stay in the hospital and to reduce the incidence of complicating suppurative inguinal adenitis, which occurred in at least 50 per cent of the patients before or during hospitalization, an attempt was directed toward increasing peripheral drainage and exposing inaccessible lesions by circumcision. Ricord²in 1858 abrogated circumcision in the management of chancroidal infection. Aubert³in 1882 lent his support to the contrary view, claiming that healing by first intention frequently occurred in patients with chancroids who were circumcised. Salsotto⁴in 1892 circumcised 5 such patients;