A Novel Noninvasive Ultrasound Vibro-elastography Technique for Assessing Patients With Erectile Dysfunction and...

To translate a novel ultrasound vibro-elastography (UVE) technique for noninvasively measuring viscoelasticity of the penis.

A pilot study of UVE was performed in men with erectile dysfunction or Peyronie disease. Assessments were performed in triplicate on the lateral aspect of the penis (bilaterally) at 100, 150, and 200 Hz before and after erectogenic injection administration. Viscoelasticity of the corpora was also calculated and compared before and after injection and against measures of erectile function, including the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function Domain, and the total erectogenic medication volume required for achieving a firm erection.

Significant increases in viscoelasticity were found after erectogenic injection, validating the ability of UVE to measure dynamic changes with erections. Baseline measures also significantly correlated with the volume of erectogenic medication required to achieve an erection (100 Hz, parameter estimate [PE] 2.21, P <.001; 150 Hz, PE 0.53, P = .03; 200 Hz, PE 0.34, P = .07) but not with age and International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function Domain. As erectogenic medications likely represent the most accurate measure of erectile function, these findings suggest a potential role for UVE as a viable diagnostic modality for erectile dysfunction.

This first report of the use of elastography with erectile function in humans demonstrates significant associations with responsiveness to erectogenic injection medications. These data have significant potential implications for broader clinical practice and merit further study and validation.