Duplicate penis

　　Duplicate penises are caused by specific environmental or genetic factors during embryonic development, leading to the longitudinal duplication of the cloacal membrane. The increase in mesoderm on the cranial side forms two genital buds, which each develop into a penis, or when the genital buds elongate to form a penis, a fusion defect occurs, resulting in a branched penis. If the embryonic defect occurs at the head of the cloacal membrane, only the duplication of the glans penis may occur. If the defect occurs at the posterior and caudal sides of the young embryo, in addition to complete duplication of the penis, there are often associated spinal deformities in the lumbar and sacral region, anal atresia, scrotal splitting, and duplicated bladder.

　　Duplicated penis often has other severe developmental abnormalities in the urinary and reproductive systems, such as hypospadias, epispadias, duplicated bladder, ectopia vesicae, absence of scrotum, testes, and kidney agenesis.

　　Duplicated penis usually has two penises located side by side or in front and back, usually in parallel, with two urethras, urethral orifices, and independent corpora cavernosa tissue. Sometimes one penis is in the normal position, while another penis is found in other parts, with smaller penis development. There are obstacles in urination, sexual intercourse, and ejaculation.

　　Duplicated penis is affected by specific environmental or genetic factors during embryonic development. Therefore, there are currently no effective preventive measures for duplicated penis, and early detection and early diagnosis are the key to the prevention and treatment of the disease.

　　Duplicated penis usually has two penises located side by side or in front and back. The examination of this disease is usually as follows.

　　1. Uroscopy or urethral probe examination

　　The catheter and urethral probe may enter the bladder through two urethral orifices.

　　2. Imaging examinations

　　Mainly refers to intravenous urography and voiding cystourethrography.

　　These examinations can help understand the anatomical morphology of the urinary system, understand the relationship between the duplicated urethra and bladder, and facilitate the formulation of treatment plans.

　　There are no special dietary requirements for duplicated penis patients, mainly focusing on the diet of pregnant women during the embryonic period. Pregnant women should avoid fried and roasted foods, smoking and drinking, and contact with toxic and harmful substances to prevent genetic mutations.

　　In the clinical treatment of duplicated penis, surgery is usually adopted. The purpose of the surgery is to remove the relatively underdeveloped corpora cavernosa of the penis and the urethra, and at the same time, perform shaping surgery on the penis to be preserved. Urethroplasty should be performed in cases with urethral defects. The duplicated penis can undergo urethral and penile shaping surgery in one stage or in stages. The surgical method for true duplicated penis is to remove the underdeveloped penis and urethra. In the above treatment process, other associated malformations should be treated at the same time.