Can radionuclide phallography help in solving impotence-related medico-legal problems?

ABSTRACT

In this study, 72 patients were categorized by routine investigations as psychogenic [n = 24], arteriogenic [n = 21], venogenic [n = 12], combined arteriovenogenic [AV] [n = 12], arteriogenic + neurogenic [n = 12] and arteriogenic + endocrine [n = 1] impotent cases, respectively. Radionuclide phallography was then performed for all patients, as well as for other 10 potent [normal] volunteers, to assess its exact value in the diagnosis of impotence. This radioisotope study, using both quantitative and qualitative interpretation showed that it can etiologically differentiate such patients into psychogenic and vasculogenic types, but the determination of the exact vasculogenic type needs furthermore complex and/or invasive investigations. In conclusion,radionuclide phallography can be used as one of the noninvasive screeningtests for solving impotence-related medico- legal problems. Medicolegalconsultants should be aware of its exact role, application, advantage andlimitations: