Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Disorders of Erectile Function

  • Reference work entry
Abdominal Imaging

  • 525 Accesses

Abstract

The definition of erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to attain or maintain a penile erection of sufficient quality to allow for satisfactory sexual activity (NIH Consensus Conference 1993). The Massachusetts Male Aging Study, observing men aged 40–70 years, found that 35% of men reported moderate or complete erectile dysfunction and up to 52% of men had experienced ED at some stage (Feldman et al. 1994). Severity and prevalence increase with age, with an estimated 20–30 million men in the USA affected by ED (Benet and Melman 1995). There are many reasons for the onset of ED, including vascular causes, some of which can be treatable. Ultrasonography (US) plays an important role in the evaluation of penile pathology, and the assessment of ED, as US provides a truly dynamic investigation through all the phases of an erectile response, in real-time circumstances denied to other imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance. High-frequency “small parts” linear transducers allow interrogation of the gray-scale anatomy and vascular components of the normal and diseased penis. Images can be obtained with few artifacts, in a noninvasive manner and without exposure to ionizing radiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arafa M, Eid H, Shamloul R. Significance of phentolamine redosing during prostaglandin E1 penile color Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosis of vascular erectile dysfunction. Int J Urol. 2007;14:467–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aversa A, Rocchietti-March M, Caprio M, Giannini D, Isidori A, Fabbri A. Anxiety-induced failure in erectile response to intracorporeal prostaglandin-E1 in non-organic male impotence: a new diagnostic approach. Int J Androl. 1996;19:307–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bassiouny HS, Levine LA. Penile duplex sonography in the diagnosis of venogenic impotence. J Vasc Surg. 1991;13:75–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bella AJ, Brant WO, Lue TF. Penile anatomy. In: Bertolotto M, editor. Color Doppler US of the penis. 1st ed. Berlin: Springer; 2008. p. 11–4.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Benet AE, Melman A. The epidemiology of erectile dysfunction. Urol Clin North Am. 1995;22:699–709.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benson CB, Aruny JE, Vickers MA. Correlation of duplex sonography with arteriography in patients with erectile dysfunction. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1993;160:71–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bertolotto M, Mucelli RP. Nonpenetrating penile traumas: sonographic and Doppler features. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004;183:1085–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertolotto M, de Stefani S, Martinoli C, Quaia E, Buttazzi L. Color Doppler appearance of penile cavernosal-spongiosal communications in patients with severe Peyronie’s disease. Eur Radiol. 2002;12:2525–31.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertolotto M, Lissiani A, Pizzolato R, Fute MD. US anatomy of the penis: common findings and anatomical variations. In: Bertolotto M, editor. Color Doppler US of the penis. 1st ed. Berlin: Springer; 2008a. p. 25–38.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bertolotto M, Mucelli FP, Liguori G, Sanabor D. Imaging priapism: the diagnostic role of color Doppler US. In: Color Doppler US of the penis. 1st ed. Berlin/New York: Springer; 2008b. p. 79–88.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou RK, Alberts GL, Pomeroy BD, Anderson JC, Carlson LK, Anderson JR, et al. Study of cavernosal arterial anatomy using color and power Doppler sonography: impact on hemodynamic parameter measurement. J Urol. 1999;162:358–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cormio L, Bettocchi C, Ricapito V, Zizzi V, Traficante A, Selvaggi FP. Resistance index as a prognostic factor for prolonged erection after penile dynamic colour Doppler ultrasonography. Eur Urol. 1998;33:94–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Bahnasawy MS, Gomha MA. Penile fractures: the successful outcome of immediate surgical intervention. Int J Impot Res. 2000;12:273–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, Krane RJ, McKinlay JB. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts male aging study. J Urol. 1994;151:54–61.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fergany AF, Angermeier KW, Montague DK. Review of Cleveland clinic experience with penile fracture. Urology. 1999;54:352–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fowlis GA, Sidhu PS, Jager HR, Agarwal S, Jackson JE, Zafar F, et al. Preliminary report: combined surgical and radiological penile vein occlusion for the management of impotence caused by venous-sinusoidal incompetence. Br J Urol. 1994;74:492–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golijanin D, Singer E, Davis R, Bhatt S, Seftel AD, Dogra VS. Doppler evaluation of erectile dysfunction – part 1. Int J Impot Res. 2007;19:37–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gontero P, Sidhu PS, Muir GH. Penile fracture repair: assessment of early results and complications using color Doppler ultrasound. Int J Impot Res. 2000;12:125–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gontero P, Sriprasad S, Wilkins CJ, Donaldson N, Muir GH, Sidhu PS. Phentolamine re-dosing during penile dynamic colour Doppler ultrasound: a practical method to abolish a false diagnosis of venous leakage in patients with erectile dysfunction. Br J Radiol. 2004;77:922–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Govier FE, Asase D, Hefty TR, McClure RD, Pritchett TR, Weissman RM. Timing of penile color flow duplex ultrasonography using a triple drug mixture. J Urol. 1995;153:1472–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrow JP, Pugh VW, Routh WD, Dyer RB. Comparison of penile duplex ultrasonography to pudendal arteriography. Variant penile arterial anatomy affects interpretation of duplex ultrasonography. Invest Radiol. 1993;28:806–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadioglu A, Tefekli A, Erol H, Cayan S, Kandirali E. Color Doppler ultrasound assessment of penile vascular system in men with Peyronie’s disease. Int J Impot Res. 2000;12:263–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang BC, Lee DY, Byun JY, Baek SY, Lee SW, Kim KW. Post-traumatic arterial priapism: colour Doppler examination and superselective arterial embolization. Clin Radiol. 1998;53:830–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kassouf W, Carrier S. A comparison of the international index of erectile function and erectile dysfunction studies. BJU Int. 2003;91:667–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keoghane SR, Sullivan ME, Miller MA. The aetiology, pathogenesis and management of priapism. BJU Int. 2002;90:149–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SH, Paick JS, Lee SE, Choi BI, Yeon KM, Han MC. Doppler sonography of deep cavernosal artery of the penis: variation of peak systolic velocity according to sampling location. J Ultrasound Med. 1994;13:591–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levine LA, Coogan CL. Penile vascular assessment using color duplex sonography in men with Peyronie’s disease. J Urol. 1996;155:1270–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lomas GM, Jarow JP. Risk factors for papaverine-induced priapism. J Urol. 1992;147:1280–1.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lue TF, Hricak H, Marich KW, Tanagho EA. Vasculogenic impotence evaluated by high-resolution ultrasonography and pulsed Doppler spectrum analysis. Radiology. 1985;155:777–81.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lue TF, Hricak H, Schmidt RA, Tanagho EA. Functional evaluation of penile veins by cavernosgraphy in papaverine-induced erection. J Urol. 1986;135:479–82.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mihmanli I, Kantarci M. Erectile dysfunction. Semin Ultrasound CT MRI. 2007;28:274–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montague DK, Jarow J, Broderick GA, Dmochowski RR, Heaton JP, Lue TF, et al. American urological association guideline on the management of priapism. J Urol. 2003;170:1318–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Montague DK, Jarow JP, Broderick GA, Dmochowski RR, Heaton JP, Lue TF, et al. Chapter 1: the management of erectile dysfunction: an AUA update. J Urol. 2005;174:230–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muneer A, Minhas S, Arya M, Ralph DJ. Stuttering priapism–a review of the therapeutic options. Int J Clin Pract. 2008;62:1265–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NIH Consensus Conference. NIH consensus conference. Impotence. NIH consensus development panel on impotence. JAMA. 1993;270:83–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patel U, Lees WR. Penile sonography. In: Solibiati L, Rizzatto G, editors. Ultrasound of superficial structures. 1st ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 1995. p. 229–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patel U, Amin Z, Friedman E, Vale J, Kirby RW, Lees WR. Colour flow and spectral Doppler imaging after papaverine-induced penile erection in 220 impotent men: study of temporal patterns and the importance of repeated sampling, velocity asymmetry and vascular anomalies. Clin Radiol. 1993;48:18–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quam JP, King BF, James EM, Lewis RW, Brakke DM, Ilstrup DM, et al. Duplex and color Doppler sonographic evaluation of vasculogenic impotence. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1989;153:1141–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roy C, Saussine C, Tuchmann C, Castel E, Lang H, Jacqmin D. Duplex Doppler sonography of the flaccid penis: potential role in the evaluation of impotence. J Clin Ultrasound. 2000;28:290–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz AN, Wang KY, Mack LA, Lowe M, Berger RE, Cyr DR, et al. Evaluation of normal erectile function with color flow Doppler sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1989;153:1155–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarzer U, Sommer F, Klotz T, Braun M, Reifenrath B, Englemann U. The prevalance of Peyronie’s disease: results of a large survey. BJU Int. 2001;88:727–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Virag R. Intracavernous injection of papaverine for erectile failure. Lancet. 1982;2(8304):938.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TG, Grant PW, Goldstein I, Krane RJ, Greenfield AJ. “High-flow” priapism: treatment with superselective transcatheter embolization. Radiology. 1990;174:1053–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weidner W, Schroeder-Printzen I, Weiske WH, Vosshenrich R. Sexual dysfunction in Peyronie’s disease; an analysis of 222 patients without previous local plaque therapy. J Urol. 1997;157:325–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins CJ, Sidhu PS. Diseases of the penis with functional evaluation. In: Baxter GM, Sidhu PS, editors. Ultrasound of the urogenital system. 1st ed. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2006. p. 181–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins CJ, Sriprasad S, Sidhu PS. Colour Doppler ultrasound of the penis. Clin Radiol. 2003;58:514–23.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams PL, Warwick R, Dyson M, Bannister LH. Splanchnology. In: Williams PL, Warwick R, Dyson M, Bannister LH, editors. Gray’s anatomy. 37th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 1989. p. 1432–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zargooshi J. Penile fracture in Kermanshah, Iran: report of 172 cases. J Urol. 2000;164:364–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, King’s College London, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK

    Dr. Paul S. Sidhu B.Sc., MRCP, FRCR (Consultant Radiologist and Senior Lecturer, Professor of Imaging Sciences) & C. Jason Wilkins M.A., MRCP, FRCR (Consultant Radiologist and Senior Lecturer)

Authors
  1. Dr. Paul S. Sidhu B.Sc., MRCP, FRCR
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Jason Wilkins M.A., MRCP, FRCR
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul S. Sidhu B.Sc., MRCP, FRCR .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Bernd Hamm

  2. Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Pablo R. Ros

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Sidhu, P.S., Wilkins, C.J. (2013). Disorders of Erectile Function. In: Hamm, B., Ros, P.R. (eds) Abdominal Imaging. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13327-5_210

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13327-5_210

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-13326-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-13327-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation