Penile Ultrasound: An Essential Tool in an Emergency Setting (Traumatic and Non-Traumatic Diseases)

Penile conditions requiring urgent care are uncommon and result from trauma and a variety of non-traumatic causes. Some cases could rapidly evolve into an emergency situation and require prompt treatment to prevent severe complications. Therefore, correct and rapid diagnosis is fundamental. Although clinical history and physical examination are essential, diagnostic imaging is usually required to confirm the clinical diagnosis. In this setting, the sonologist in the emergency department has to be familiar with the basic US penile anatomy and with the most common US findings in urgent penile care. US is the key imaging method because it is readily available, safe, cost-effective, and well-tolerated by the patient. US can differentiate intracavernosal from extracavernosal hematomas and detect rupture of the tunica albuginea, consistent with penile fracture, that requires early surgical exploration. Color Doppler evaluation and spectral analysis are necessary to depict vascular abnormalities.