Decoding penile pathology and imaging techniques

Penile pathology encompasses a wide spectrum of conditions. Among the most common lesions are vascular abnormalities (Mondor's disease, thrombosis of the corpus cavernosum, erectile dysfunction and priapism), traumatic injuries (penile fracture, intracavernous and extraalbugineal haematomas), inflammatory and infectious processes (abscess and gangrenous cavernositis), benign lesions (Peyronie's disease and others) and malignant lesions (both primary and metastatic). A radiologist's knowledge of these conditions is fundamental for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, with a significant potential impact on both quality of life and clinical management. The aim of this article is to illustrate the key imaging findings of the main penile pathologies using different imaging modalities and to review the principal differential diagnoses through representative cases.