Angiokeratoma of the scrotum: a case of scrotal bleeding

Abstract

A 26-year-old man presented to the emergency department after a spontaneous 30 min bleed from his scrotal skin. He showed no other symptoms and denied any past medical history. He was exclusively sexually active, systemically well and haemodynamically stable. There were numerous (>50) 1–2 mm dark red, erythematous papules over the scrotum, sparing the shaft of penis, inner thigh and abdomen. A small area of blood marked the bleeding spot as a single papule. A diagnosis of angiokeratoma of the scrotum (Fordyce) was made and potential precipitants such as intra-abdominal masses, urinary tract tumours, varicoceles, hernias and angiokeratoma corporis diffusum (Fabry syndrome) were excluded. He was discharged with dermatology follow-up with a view to local laser treatment. The important differential diagnoses are angiokeratoma corporis diffusum and malignant melanoma (nodular type). In females, Fordyce angiokeratoma are distributed on labia majora.