[The use of dynamic Doppler color ultrasonography of the penis in the study of erectile dysfunction].
BACKGROUND
We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of dynamic color Doppler sonography (D-CDS) in men with erectile dysfunctions (ED). Terminal microcirculation alterations and their correlation with erectile response after drug testing were investigated with power Doppler energy.


METHODS
134 impotent patients were submitted to CDS during flaccidity: 8 of them (6%) had sparse hyperechoic spots inside the corpora. A standardized intracavernous injection of 10 micrograms alprostadil (PGE1) was followed by audiovisual sexual stimulation. If rigid erection was not achieved after 20 minutes, patients were randomized to redosing of either 10 micrograms PGE1 (phase 2a) or 10 micrograms PGE1 plus 1 mg phentolamine (phase 2b), with reassessment of power Doppler recordings after 20 minutes (peak systolic velocities and the resistive index, RI).


RESULTS
A rigid erection (RI > .90) was achieved in 26% of patients after the first injection. As for the remaining patients, the RI was improved in 12% after phase 2a and in 34% after phase 2b (p < .05), with no differences in mean peak systolic velocities. Power Doppler showed two/three orders of distal branches of helicine arterioles with regular morphology, in most of the latter subjects. A negative correlation (r = .68, p < .001) was found between penile fibrosis and the degree of rigidity achieved after the first injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Penile sonography in the flaccid state can show calcificic plaques and/or fibrosis of the corpora. Redosing of PGE1 plus phentolamine during D-CDS is a safe procedure and improves diagnostic accuracy in erectile dysfunctions, with significantly fewer non-responders than redosing of PGE1 alone. Power Doppler energy shows altered morphology of helicine arterioles otherwise missed at color Doppler and is thus recommended to make an accurate diagnosis in some men with erectile dysfunctions.
Aversa
A
A
Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Medica, Università La Sapienza, Roma. amfaversa@yahoo.com
Bertucci
B
B
Bonifacio
V
V
Isidori
A
A
Fabbri
A
A
D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color