[Lichen sclerosis et atrophicus as a cause of acquired phimosis--circumcision as a preventive procedure against penis cancer?].

From January to December 1985, circumcision for acquired phimosis was performed at our department in 140 boys with a median age of 4 3/4 years. The histological examination of the prepuce revealed the existence of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) in 6 cases, e.g. 4.3% of all circumcisions performed. The striking frequency of this chronic inflammatory epithelial change and the often cited connection between the existence of LSA and the development of penile cancer during adulthood as well as the well-known tendency towards the incidence of recurrent phimosis in LSA patients support the claim for total circumcision in these cases.