Anatomic variations of cavernous arteries and their effect on measurement of hemodynamic parameters: a power Doppler study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the cavernous arterial (CA) anatomy with power Doppler imaging and evaluate the effects of any anatomic variations on the measurement of hemodynamic parameters.


METHODS
Thirty-three patients with and 26 without a vascular component to their erectile dysfunction were examined. The CA anatomy was evaluated, and hemodynamic variables were measured at multiple sites, including sites in each artery, if multiple CAs were present.


RESULTS
The frequency of anatomic variation was similar between the two groups. A single CA, considered normal, was observed in 57.7% of 52 corpora in the nonvasculogenic group and in 63.6% of 66 corpora in the vasculogenic group. Seven patients (26.9%) in the nonvasculogenic group and 11 (33.3%) in the vasculogenic group had CA anatomy that was different between the right and left corpora. In both groups, a single CA ordinarily showed at least a 35.0% decrement in the mean peak systolic velocity (PSV) between the crura and the proximal shaft; double, triple, and bifurcated CAs also had distally decreased PSV. However, two corpora with a single CA showed an increased PSV distally; in 1 patient, arterial communication between the corpora was responsible. In 86.7% of corpora with double CAs in the vasculogenic group and in 52.6% in the nonvasculogenic group, the CA distant from the crura showed a greater PSV than that near the crura.


CONCLUSIONS
CA anatomy is variable, and the PSV differs between sites, irrespective of the presence of a vascular component to erectile dysfunction. Thus, anatomic variations should be considered when interpreting Doppler sonography.
Sakamoto
Hideo
H
Department of Urology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Nagata
Masakazu
M
Saito
Katsuyuki
K
Okumura
Taisuke
T
Yoshida
Hideki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000494:pharmacology; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006439:Hemodynamics; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000527:Alprostadil