Meatal Stenosis Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Dec 01, 2021
  • Author: Joel F Koenig, MD; Chief Editor: Marc Cendron, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

Diagnosis of meatal stenosis is often delayed after circumcision because boys do not receive long-term follow-up care after circumcision and because signs and symptoms are difficult to detect before toilet training.

Symptoms of meatal stenosis are often mistaken for urinary tract infections and at times, unfortunately, may be treated empirically with antibiotics.

Impairment to distal urethral urinary flow may be ignored or may go unrecognized for months until caregivers happen to witness the child with meatal stenosis void. Other causes of urinary symptoms should be noted (eg, voiding dysfunction).

Differential Diagnoses