phimosis
Pronunciation: fy-MO-sis
Inability to retract the foreskin over the glans penis, which may be physiological in young boys or pathological requiring treatment.
Full Definition
Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin over the glans penis. In infants and young children, physiological phimosis is normal due to natural adhesions between the foreskin and glans that gradually separate over time. Pathological phimosis occurs when scarring or inflammation prevents normal retraction, often following forced retraction attempts, infections, or inflammatory conditions like balanitis xerotica obliterans. Treatment may include topical steroids for mild cases or circumcision for severe pathological phimosis. It's important to distinguish physiological phimosis, which requires no intervention, from pathological phimosis.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from paraphimosis, where the foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans.
In Context
- "The 3-year-old boy had physiological phimosis that required no intervention." — Pediatric examination
- "Topical steroid cream was prescribed for pathological phimosis." — Pediatric urology consultation