Penile Color Doppler Ultrasonography

What is erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting an erection)?

Erectile dysfunction is a condition frequently seen in men. Although it is more common in older age, it is also encountered in young people. Erectile dysfunction may be due to psychological, vascular, neurogenic or hormonal causes; older age, long-term smoking, hypertension or diabetes are the main risk factors for vascular causes.

What is penile color Doppler ultrasound?

In patients with erection problems, after a urological examination, penile color Doppler ultrasonography is recommended to evaluate whether there is a problem in the arteries or veins of the penis.

Penile color Doppler ultrasound is also an imaging method used in the diagnosis of plaque in the penis that causes Peyronie's disease (curvature of the penis). Treatment is planned according to the Doppler ultrasound result.

How is penile color Doppler ultrasonography performed?

Penile color Doppler ultrasonography is performed by radiologists using an ultrasonography device. Ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound are imaging methods that contain no radiation and use sound waves.

In a penile color Doppler ultrasound examination, first the patient's penile tissue, vascular structures and their diameters are examined and it is imaged whether there is plaque or calcification. Then, under ultrasound guidance, a medication that provides an erection is injected into the penis. After the injection, a period of time is waited and at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 minutes the diameter of the arteries entering the penis and the veins returning from it is measured, and the flow speed and pattern are evaluated.

A peak systolic blood flow velocity above 30 cm/s in the arteries entering the penis is considered normal. If this value is below 25 cm/s, arterial insufficiency is considered. If the value called the end-diastolic flow velocity is above 5 cm/s, it is evaluated in favor of veno-occlusive dysfunction (venous insufficiency).

How long does penile color Doppler ultrasound take?

Penile color Doppler ultrasound takes an average of 40–60 minutes. Patients usually return to their normal life after about 1 hour.

Is penile color Doppler ultrasonography a harmful procedure?

Penile color Doppler ultrasound is a harmless and painless procedure when performed on suitable people in the correct way.

Side Effects of Penile Color Doppler Ultrasound

Depending on the medications used in the penile color Doppler ultrasound examination, a condition called 'priapism' — in which the erection after the procedure lasts longer than 4 hours — may rarely be encountered. In such a case, the patient should consult their urologist or the emergency department within 2 hours, and if it lasts longer than 4 hours, the erection must be terminated with intervention. Apart from this, mild bruising, redness or pain may be seen at the needle site after the procedure.