ABSTRACT

To investigate the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography (CE-PDU) in diagnosing erectile dysfunction (ED) in the flaccid penile state, and in differentiating vascular pathology.

After routine evaluation of 20 patients with ED, peak systolic velocity (PSV) values were measured at baseline (PSV1), after echo-contrast agent (PSV2), and after vasoactive agent (PSV3) on the cavernosal arteries for each corporeal unit. End diastolic velocity (EDV) was only measured after vasoactive drug injection. Vascular pathology was classified according to PSV3 and EDV values.

PSV1 was measured in 58% and PSV2 in 93% of the patients, although the differences among the measurement rates of PSV1, PSV2 and PSV3 were not statistically significant. The PSV3 value was statistically different from those of PSV1 and PSV2, while the difference between PSV1 and PSV2 was insignificant. Among vascular subgroups PSV1 values were not different, but PSV2 and PSV3 values were significantly different.

According to this study CE-PDU could show much more arterial signals in the penile flaccid state compared to classical power Doppler ultrasonography, though it was not statistically significant, so it seemed to be a promising technique in determining a cut-off value for PSV in the penile flaccid state, thus in making differential diagnosis of ED.

Keywords: Echo-contrast agent, erectile dysfunction, power Doppler ultrasonography