[Comparison of cavernometry and duplex ultrasound in the diagnosis of veno-occlusive erectile dysfunction].
OBJECTIVE
To compare pulsed duplex ultrasound and cavernometry in the aetiological diagnosis of veno-occlusive erectile dysfunction.


METHODS
Between September 1995 and January 2005, 81 patients with a mean age of 48.45 +/- 12.35 years consulting for erectile dysfunction were investigated by cavernometry and pulsed duplex ultrasound before and after sensitization by intracavernous injection of 10 microg/ml of prostaglandin. The results of these two examinations were compared by the kappa concordance test.


RESULTS
According to pulsed duplex ultrasound, 54 patients presented veno-occlusive incompetence. According to cavernometry, 56 patients presented veno-occlusive incompetence. The concordance between the results of the two examinations was only moderate (kappa = 0.52, p < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.5886-0.7967).


CONCLUSIONS
Duplex ultrasound is a first-line examination in a case of suspected organic erectile dysfunction due to a vascular cause. However, due to the limited concordance for the aetiological diagnosis of veno-occlusive erectile dysfunction between duplex ultrasound and cavernometry, cavernometry is still indicated in highly selected cases such as preoperative work-up.
Gamé
Xavier
X
Service d'Urologie, Transplantation Rénale et Andrologie, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France. xaviergame@hotmail.com
Berrebi
Abdelouaheb
A
Lostes
Alain
A
Malavaud
Bernard
B
Sarramon
Jean-Pierre
JP
Rischmann
Pascal
P
D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex