Penis ultrasound is a diagnostic procedure that visualizes the internal structures of the male genital organ: spongy and cavernous bodies, the protein membrane, vessels. The results are informative for erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, tumors, hematomas and inflammation of the organ. Penis ultrasound is performed independently and in combination with Doppler ultrasound of blood vessels, with or without provocation of an erection.
Preparation
Advance preparation for penis ultrasound is not necessary. Before the procedure, it is necessary to perform daily hygienic care of the genitals.
What shows
The basic penis ultrasound is a two-dimensional seroscale echography (B-mode), displaying the structure of the cavernous and spongiose bodies, the organ shell. Allows you to identify fibrosis, tumors and injuries. It can be performed in combination with Doppler ultrasound, duplex and triplex vascular scanning. Duplex examination provides information about the size of veins and arteries, their capacity, and the direction of blood flow. With a triplex scan, a color image is obtained that determines the speed of blood flow. A pharmacological test is used to obtain data on blood flow during erection.
For the structures of the penis and vessels, there are normative indicators: the echogenicity of the cavernous and spongy bodies is uniform, moderate, the diameter of the cavernous artery is 0.6-1.0 mm, the peak systolic velocity is 35 cm / sec, the final diastolic velocity is 0-5 cm/sec. With the help of ultrasound , the following groups of pathologies are diagnosed:
- Erectile dysfunction. In arteriogenic impotence, blood flow through the cavernous arteries is assessed. The diagnosis can be confirmed with a decrease in speed characteristics – indicators of peak systolic velocity of less than 25 cm/ sec.
- Vascular pathologies. Doppler ultrasound reveals abnormalities of vascular development, venous thrombosis, atherosclerotic plaques. There is an expansion or narrowing of the vascular lumen, a change in vascular architectonics, uneven blood flow, increased echogenicity of vascular walls.
- Acute cavernitis. Tissue inflammation – cavernitis – is provoked by local and general infections (urethritis, sepsis), damage to the urethra. The ultrasound picture shows reduced echogenicity, increased blood flow.
- Cavernous fibrosis. Pathological compaction of cavernous bodies, or cavernous fibrosis, is formed due to chronic inflammatory processes, injuries, priapism. Ultrasound-signs of the disease – increased echogenicity, deformation of organ structures. With a focal lesion, the heterogeneity of the erectile tissue is determined.
- Neoplasms. Benign and malignant tumors, metastases are diagnosed as foci of altered echogenic density.
- Peyronie’s disease. With the development of Peyronie’s disease, the protein shell thickens. Deformations of structures, plaques and seals can be detected – foci of increased echogenicity.
Ultrasound of the genitals is prescribed as part of a comprehensive diagnosis of andrological diseases. The results of the scan are not used in isolation to make a diagnosis, but are interpreted taking into account the data of a physical examination, a clinical survey and laboratory tests.
Advantages
Ultrasound examination of male external genitalia is a safe diagnostic technique. The procedure is completely painless, does not affect the state of health, can be used repeatedly without any risks. Penis ultrasound has an affordable cost compared to other imaging studies, for example, MRI. Conducting an intracavernous test within the framework of echography of penile vessels increases the price of the study – it may vary slightly depending on the drug used. The disadvantage is the low resolution of ultrasound images, the inability to differentiate certain types of neoplasms.
