The Use of Duplex Ultrasound in the Assessment of Arterial Supply to the Penis in Vasculogenic Impotence

Abstract

Impotence may be caused by arterial disease affecting the vessels supplying the corpora cavernosa. Color duplex ultrasound was used to measure the peak systolic velocity and systolic rise time in the deep penile arteries in 22 impotent men following papaverine stimulation. The results were compared with the findings of selective internal pudendal pharmaco-arteriography. A further comparison was made using color duplex ultrasound with 37 impotent men who all responded well to papaverine. A systolic rise time of 110 msec. or more was found to be the best discriminant of disease in the arteries supplying the corpora giving a positive predictive value of 0.92. A long systolic rise time in a papaverine responder may indicate that the arterial supply is borderline or that the arterial flow is maximal and that the problem lies on the sinusoidal-venous side. It appears that in the absence of a pathological condition there is a large surplus arterial supply.