Rare medical condition turns man's penis to bone, leaving US doctors baffled

A routine doctor’s visit took a shocking turn for an American man in his 60s when an X-ray revealed an extremely rare condition causing his penis to turn to bone. The unnamed patient had sought medical advice for knee trauma but ended up confronting a diagnosis that left even the physicians astounded.

During the visit, the man complained of pain in his penis, prompting doctors to investigate. While initial examinations found no swelling, unusual discharge, or other common indicators of penile distress, an X-ray exposed “extensive, plaque-like calcification” along the length of his organ.

The condition, identified as penile ossification, is extraordinarily rare, with only about 40 documented cases globally. This anomaly occurs when calcium salts accumulate in the soft tissues of the penis, forming a bony structure.

Despite the alarming diagnosis, the patient declined further tests or treatment and left the medical facility abruptly. According to the study published in Urology Case Reports, this sudden departure left the underlying cause of his condition unclear.