'First reported case': Baby boy born with three penises
A baby boy has had to undergo surgery in what is thought to be the first case of a human being born with three penises.
The three-month-old, from Iraq, was presented to hospital with two extra penises in his perineum, according to his case in International Journal of Surgery Case Reports.
The perineum refers to the area of the body between the genitals and the anus.
Doctors noted one of the extra appendages was attached to the root of his penis and was 2cm while the other was 1cm and below the scrotum.
They also noted no urethra was found in either of the extra two and both were removed.
He had originally been brought in due to swelling in the scrotum and this was also treated by doctors.
The boy returned to hospital a year later with no further complications.
Boy's condition thought to be world first
“Triphallia (three penises) is an unreported condition in humans until now,” researchers wrote.
“Patients with supernumerary penises have unique presentations and no cases are identical.”
Researchers wrote treatment for the condition was “difficult” because it posed “medical, ethical, and cosmetic” issues.
“A combined multidisciplinary team is required for the management and long-term follow up is required,” they wrote.
“Excision or reconstruction of the duplicate penis is required depending on the corporal development and anatomy of the urethra.”
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Researchers also noted duplication of the penis is involved in only one in five to six million births, but the boy’s case was the only reported one with three.
About 100 cases of diphallia, or someone born with two, have been reported.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case with three penises or triphallia as no similar case is present in literature in human beings,” they wrote.
“This will add to literature because this may change the classification of multiple penises and help the authors for standardising the management plans according to individual cases.”
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