The value of maximal blood flow volume on duplex ultrasonography for the diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction

To evaluate the usefulness of maximal blood flow volume (MBFV) measured by duplex ultrasonography (US) compared with penile tumescence measured by RigiScan in the diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). This study included twenty six patients who performed both RigiScan and duplex US after intracorporeal injection of Prostaglandin EL. We measured tumescences of penile tip and base using RigiScan and maximal arterial diameter (MAD) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) using a 7 MHz color Doppler unit. MBFV was defined as (MAD/2)2 X π X PSV. Based on normal value, we compared MAD and MBFV, and PSV and MBFV and the correlations of each measurements were evaluated with Spearman's correlation analysis. The level of significance was P<0.05. The results between MAD and MBFV, and PSV ad MBFV based on normal values were similar, respectively. Tumescences of penile tip and base were significantly correlated with MAD (r=0.409, r=0.52, p<0.05), and PSV (r=0.565, r=0.396, p<0.05). MBFV was also significantly correlated with tumescences od penile tip and base (r=0.502, r=0.563, p<0.05). In 4 patients with abnormal MAD and normal PSV, 3 had abnormal MBFV and 1 had normal MBFV. All 3 patients with abnormal MBFV had abnormal penile tumescence and 1 patients with normal MBFV had normal tumescence. One patients with normal MAD and abnormal PSV had abnormal MBFV and penile tumescence. In our study, MBFV was accurate in the diagnosis of arteriogenic ED. Moreover, MBFV was usefulness in the diagnosis of arteriogenic ED as it could explain the case where MAD and PSV are not accoded.