title: The value of shear wave elastography in the quantification of corpus cavernosum penis rigidity and its alteration with age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to measure corpus cavernosum (CC) penis rigidity with shear wave elastography (SWE) in healthy volunteers and to evaluate the change of rigidity with age.
  
  
  METHODS
  SWE was performed in 60 healthy volunteers (age range 20-71, mean 47±12,83 years). Volunteers were divided into 2 groups by age (Group 1 age <50, group 2 age ≥50). We assessed SWE in 3 parts of penis (proximal, middle and glans penis) on both sides of CC. All values of SWE (in kilo Pascal) were noted along with volunteers' ages. The measurements were done both with transverse (T) and longitudinal (L) sections. We compared all SW values of penis parts and their alterations with age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The shear wave elastography values of CC penis increased with increasing age (p<0,01). There was no significant difference between both sides of CC penis (p<0,05). We calculated no significant difference between T and L sections of all parts of penis (p<0,05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWE can provide noninvasive quantitative data of CC penis rigidity and its alteration with age. These data may create a new approach in the evaluation process and treatment options for penile pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, University of Health Sciences Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ercan@inci.com.
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inci
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, University of Health Sciences Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: rustuturkay@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rustu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turkay
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, University of Health Sciences Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: musnalbant88@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa Orhan
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Nalbant
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, University of Health Sciences Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: yenicegurkan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa Gurkan
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Yenice
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, University of Health Sciences Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: volkantugcu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tugcu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; Corpus cavernosum penis; Erectile dysfunction; Penile stiffness; Shear wave elastography