Role of RigiScan parameters in differentiation of vascular erectile dysfunction

Male nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity assessed by RigiScan monitoring device (GOTOP Inc.) is a noninvasive tool to differentiate organic from psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). This study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of RigiScan parameters in differentiating arterial ED from veno-occlusive ED. We recruited 102 male patients (mean ± SD, 32.3 ± 6.7 years old) presented with an overall score <21 in the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function scoring system. Baseline data of the included subjects were collected, and the patients were then subjected to RigiScan monitoring, penile colour Doppler ultrasound, and dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography examination. These patients were allocated into psychogenic, arterial and venous ED group based on the results of these specific examinations. At last, psychogenic ED was identified in 56 out of 102 men, while arteriogenic ED was identified in 31 cases and venogenic ED in 15 out of the overall 102 cases. The erection episodes per night (1.6 ± 0.5 vs. 2.5 ± 0.9 for venogenic vs. arterial ED respectively) and the duration of tip erections ≥60% in the venogenic ED group (21.5 ± 10.5 min) were significantly lower than cases in arteriogenic ED individuals (34.5 ± 17.0 min). Besides, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the duration of tip erections with a cut-off value of 12.5 min had 81.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity for predicting a venogenic ED in cases with organic impotence. In conclusion, the duration of tip erection of RigiScan parameters was used to distinguish venogenic from arterial ED.