Differences in Cavernosal Artery Parameters According to Different Anatomic Sampling Locations During the Diagnosis of Vascular Erectile Dysfunction Using Duplex Ultrasound

To establish a standard location for examining penile cavernosal arteries (CAs) using dynamic duplex Doppler ultrasound (PDDU) examination in the diagnosis of non-arterial erectile dysfunction (ED) or arterial insufficiency.

Two groups of 105 patients each were enrolled. The first group (age 56.3 ± 6.0 years) displayed clinical patterns of arterial insufficiency; the second group (age 35.2 ± 4.7 years) displayed clinical patterns of non-arterial ED. The patients had their peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI = PSV - EDV/PSV × 100), and acceleration time of the CAs measured using PDDU at the crura and at the midpoint between the penoscrotal junction and the coronal sulcus (mid penis). Intra- and interoperator variability were assessed. The PSV, RI, acceleration time, and EDV data obtained from the penoscrotal junction or from the "mid penis" in group 1 and in group 2 were compared using analysis of variance.

The PSV, EDV, and acceleration time were significantly higher when measured at the crura penis than when measured at the "mid penis" in both groups, whereas the RI was higher at the "mid penis" than at the "crura." Thus, arterial ED was better diagnosed with the data from the mid penis, whereas non-arterial ED was better diagnosed at the "crura."

The location of the sampling site of the CAs using PDDU is critical for a correct diagnosis of ED.