Median raphe cyst of the penis with ciliated cells

Abstract

Cystic lesions occurring on the ventral surface of the penis have been classified as median raphe cysts of the penis. They are lined by pseudostratified, columnar or stratified squamous cell epithelium, mimicking the epithelial lining of the male urethra. Ciliated cysts of the human skin are unusual. Cystic lesions containing ciliated cells have been noted to occur in the chest, neck, or head, and bronchogenic origin has been the most accepted explanation for its origin. Other reports show the presence of ciliated cysts on the lower extremities, and the mechanism of formation is still a debated question. A case of median raphe cyst of the penis containing ciliated epithelium is presented. The existing literature about these cutaneous lesions is reviewed, including the possible mechanisms believed to be involved in its origin.