[Basal Doppler ultrasonography of the penis. Standardization of the method]

The authors present their experience with 120 patients investigated for erection disorders. The clinical evaluation of this multidisciplinary approach includes endocrine assessment, neurological and vascular examination, which includes measurement of nocturnal erections (NPT test). From the vascular viewpoint, bilateral velocimetric curves of the dorsal, cavernous and bulbo urethral arteries are recorded in the basal state (six derivations) the PBPI (Penile Brachial Pressure Index) is then calculated. The group included 17 patients with vascular pathology, 94 with psychogenic pathology and 9 with mixed pathology. In the cases due to vascular pathology only 34.04% of penile arterial flow rates were within the normal range: out of the 6 measurements almost 4 were outside the normal range. A statistically significant difference was noted between the mean velocity data and the PBPI of the "psychogenic" and "vascular" patients. This examination enables the andrologist to take into account the state of vascularisation of the penis and to continue with new forms of examination (dynamic Doppler) which provide the most precise possible etiological diagnosis.