title: MRI of penile fracture: diagnosis and therapeutic follow-up.
abstract: A rupture of corpus cavernosum (CC) is a rare injury of the erect penis. The present study describes the role of MRI for diagnosis and follow-up of this injury. Four patients with clinically suspected acute penile fractures underwent MRI. Imaging findings were confirmed at surgery. In three patients, follow-up MRI was also available at 1, 6 and 16 weeks after surgical repair. In all patients pre-contrast T1-weighted images (T1WI) clearly disclosed ruptures of CC, which depicted as discontinuity of low signal intensity of the tunica albuginea (TA). Concomitant subcutaneous haematoma were well visualised both on T1-weighted (T1WI) and T2-weighted images, whereas haematoma in CC were optimally demonstrated on contrast-enhanced T1WI. On follow-up MRI all fractures presented similar healing process. Shortly after the repair, the tunical suture showed an increase in signal intensity on pre-contrast T1WI and was strongly enhanced with the administration of contrast material. Then the tear site gradually recovered low signal intensity on all spin-echo sequences by 4 months after surgery. These serial findings may suggest the formation of vascularised granulation tissue during cicatrisation. Magnetic resonance imaging is of great value for the diagnosis and follow-up in patients with penile fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Kirrberger Strasse 1, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. rauder@med-rz.uni-saarland.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uder
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gohl
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Derouet
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Defreyne
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kramann
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology; D010413:Penis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012421:Rupture / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology