Aybegüm KALYONCU AYCENK, Onur YALÇIN
Cam and Sakura Medical Journal - 2026;6(2):67-75
Objective: Penile measurements are critical in the evaluation of micropenis, yet the potential effects of circumcision and higher body weight percentiles remain underexplored. This study aimed to assess how circumcision status and weight percentiles (specifically comparing <75th and >=75th percentiles) influence penile length measurements and glans diameter (GD) in children aged 0-10 years. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 540 boys who underwent circumcision between 2022 and 2024. Age, weight, and weight percentile were recorded along with penile measurements. Baseline (flaccid) penile length (BPL) and stretched penile length (SPL) were measured before circumcision; BPL, SPL, and GD were reassessed postoperatively. Patients were categorized as <75th or >=75th percentile for weight. Comparative and correlational analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between weight status and penile measurements. Results: In infants, SPL was significantly lower in children in the >=75th percentile group compared to those in the <75th percentile group. Across all age groups, BPL was significantly lower in children with higher weight percentiles. GD was larger only among infants in the >=75th percentile group. While SPL generally increased following circumcision, a paradoxical decrease was noted in children with higher weight percentiles (>=75th percentile), likely reflecting differences in measurement conditions rather than true anatomical shortening. Conclusion: Circumcision status and weight percentile may significantly influence penile measurements among children. Current normative data may not fully represent circumcised children and those with higher weight percentiles, potentially affecting clinical interpretation. These findings should be interpreted as reflecting measurement-related variability rather than true anatomical changes in penile length. Updated population-specific reference standards incorporating circumcision status and body weight percentiles may improve diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making.
