Back to 2018 Program Penile Length: A New Average

Wesley Baas*, Springfield, IL, Georgia Luckey, Edwardsville, IL, Ranjiv I. Mathews, Springfield, IL INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There is currently sparse data available in the literature about what constitutes abnormal penile length in children. The currently used nomogram is based on a 70 year old study of Caucasian children. It is unclear if this small study still holds true, particularly in children of other races. The clinical significance of penile length is the diagnosis of micropenis, which is diagnosed as 2.5 standard deviations below the mean stretched penile length. The objective of this study was to create a new nomogram for penile length in a more contemporary cohort of patients with a variety of racial backgrounds.



METHODS: Stretched penile length measurements before and after surgery were done on pediatric patients undergoing pediatric urology procedures from January 2014 to February 2017. Charts were reviewed for demographic information including race, type of operation, and age of operation. Measurements were then charted and fit with linear regression models.



RESULTS: A total of 167 children were included in the study. 111 identified as "White" or "Caucasian", 32 identified as "Black" or "African American", and 24 identified as "Other", "Hispanic", "Mixed heritage", or "Asian" and were grouped into "Other Category". A new nomogram for penile length as a function of age was created (Figures 1 and 2).



CONCLUSIONS: A new nomogram of penile lengths as a function of age was created based off of the stretched penile length of 167 children of varying ages and racial backgrounds. Penile lengths for Caucasian and "Other" races were very similar, but African-American children had significantly longer penile lengths for a given age. This new nomogram suggests that there may be a racial disparity in measured stretched penile length in prepubertal boys. The disparities may potentially impact on the diagnosis of micropenis or other genetic abnormalities involving penile length in childhood.



Source of Funding: None





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