Polyembolokoilamania: Self-Insertion of Transistor Radio Antenna in Male Urethra

Below:  Oblique pelvic X-ray showing foreign body in the region of penile and bulbar urethra

Below:  Intra-operative photograph of the foreign body being removed via external urethrotomy of the anterior urethra

Below:  Post-operative photograph of the foreign body - a transistor radio antenna. The antenna is an aluminium tube and measured 13 cm in length

Though self-insertion of a foreign body in the male urethra is an infrequent urologic emergency, a weird variety of self-inserted foreign bodies have been reported. Most of these are attributed to autoerotic stimulation, a consequence of mental illness or the result of drug intoxication. We report an unusual case of a 65-year-old African man who self-inserted a broken transistor radio antenna into his urethra to serve as an improvised ‘itchstick’ to ease a bothersome itchy urethral condition. The foreign body subsequently migrated proximally out of reach. He presented a week after with urethral bleeding following nocturnal penile erections and we describe his evaluation and the challenge of retrieval. The reasons for self-inserting objects into the urethra may be as varied as the foreign bodies themselves and may include objects being used as an improvised ‘itchstick’ for itchy urethral conditions. The urologist's creative tendencies will often be required in safely removing these objects.

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