Sonographic patterns of Peyronie's disease in patients with absence of palpable plaques

ABSTRACT Purpose Non-palpable isolated septal plaques of the penis are likely present in a significant number of patients affected by erectile dysfunction (ED) and penile pain without deformity or curvature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasound (US) patterns observed in patients investigated for ED or penile pain without curvature. Materials and Methods We reviewed the medical records of 386 patients who underwent an initial colour-Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) of the penis for DE and/or penile pain without curvature. After satisfying inclusion criteria, 41 patients were individualized. All patients had a non-palpable plaque with involvement of the penile septum. Three US patterns were identified: focal hyperecoic thickening of the intercavernosum septum (IS) with acoustic shadow (pattern 1), non-calcified thickening (isoechoic or slightly hyperechoic (pattern 2), and microcalcifications in the IS without associated acoustic shadow (pattern 3). Results Patients' mean age was 51.3±16.7. ED was the predominant disorder in 73.2% of patients, followed by penile pain and length loss in 19.5% and 7.3% of patients, respectively. 32(78.1%) patients showed the pattern 1, 6 (14.6%) pattern 2, and 3 (7.3%) pattern 3. Plaques size varied from 3 to 13 mm. The penile hemodynamic response to CDU reported abnormal findings distally to the septal plaques in 20 patients (<25cm/sec). Median left and right cavernosum artery flows measured a peak systolic velocity of 31cm/sec and 33 cm/sec, respectively. Conclusions We believe that an US study with CDU provides a way to characterize, localize, and deliver treatment choice in patients with Peyronie's Disease.

Prophylactic Phenylephrine for Iatrogenic Priapism: A Pilot Study With Peyronie's Patients

PURPOSE: Although penile duplex Doppler ultrasonography (PDDU) is a common and integral procedure in a Peyronie's disease workup, the intracavernosal injection of vasoactive agents can carry a serious risk of priapism. Risk factors include young age, good baseline erectile function, and no coronary artery disease. In addition, patients with Peyronie's disease undergoing PDDU in an outpatient setting are at increased risk given the inability to predict optimal dosing. The present study was conducted to provide support for a standard protocol of early administration of phenylephrine in patients with a sustained erection after diagnostic intracavernosal injection of vasoactive agents to prevent the deleterious effects of iatrogenic priapism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of Peyronie's disease patients who received phenylephrine reversal after intracavernosal alprostadil (prostaglandin E1) administration to look at the priapism rate. Safety was determined on the basis of adverse events reported by subjects and efficacy was determined on the basis of the rate of priapism following intervention. RESULTS: Patients with Peyronie's disease only had better hemodynamic values on PDDU than did patients with Peyronie's disease and erectile dysfunction. All of the patients receiving prophylactic phenylephrine had complete detumescence of erections without adverse events, including no priapism cases. CONCLUSIONS: The reversal of erections with phenylephrine after intracavernosal injections of alprostadil to prevent iatrogenic priapism can be effective without increased adverse effects.