Role of penile ultrasonography in erection deficit

The presence of penile nodule, curvature, disorders in blood flow to and from the corpora cavernosa is often correlated with organic sexual impotence. Echography allows to obtain a clear imaging of penile structures: diameters of corpora cavernosa can be measured before and after injection of vasoactive drugs. In our study penile structure were evaluated using a Combison 310 and a Toshiba with 7.5 MHz probe. In a lot of cases echography was repeated after intracavernous injection of PGE 1 or papaverine. The equipment needed for this evaluation is expensive but echography is undoubtedly less invasive than other equivalent examinations like cavernosography. Although the sensitivity and specificity of penile echography have not yet been clearly established this test is generally considered to be an useful and objective one. Penile echography is particularly usefull in discriminating between echogenic and not-echogenic nodules in case of Peyronie disease.