Penile curvature severity in patients with Peyronie's disease does not correlate with dynamic color doppler duplex ultrasound parameters: findings from a real-life cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Introduction: There is inconsistent data regarding the possible inaccuracies in dynamic penile color Doppler duplex ultrasound (CDDU) measurements in men with penile curvature because of Peyronie's disease (PD). We sought to explore the relationship between the degree of penile curvature and CDDU parameters in men with PD.

Materials and methods: Comprehensive data from 154 consecutive men presenting with PD as their primary complaint at a single academic center were prospectively collected and analyzed. All men underwent CDDU. Penile curvature was measured using a goniometer at time of maximum erection during CDDU. Patients were grouped based on CDDU parameters into-normal (average peak systolic velocity [PSV] ≥ 35 cm/s and resistance index [RI] ≥ 0.85) and pathological CDDU (average PSV < 35 cm/s and/or RI < 0.85). Descriptive statistics was used to compare the two subcohorts. Linear regression models were fitted to explore the association between the degree of penile curvature and dynamic CDDU parameters.

Results: Overall, the median interquartile range (IQR) age was 56 (48-63) years. The median (IQR) PSV and degree of penile curvature were 48.8 cm/s (37.9-58.5) and 40 degrees (30-60), respectively. At CDDU, the degrees of penile curvature were as follows: 10-30 degrees in 63 (40.9%) men, 30-70 degrees in 70 (45.5%) men, and 70-90 degrees in 21 (13.6%) men, respectively. Of all, 116 (75.3%) patients showed a PSV > 35 cm/s and RI ≥ 0.85. Patients with pathologic vs. normal CDDU parameters did not differ in median (IQR) curvature (32.5° [30°-58.7°] vs. 40° [30°-65°], p = 0.5) or in the distribution across curvature range groups. Linear regression analysis revealed that the degree of penile curvature did not significantly correlate with PSV at CDDU (coefficient: 0.06, p = 0.3).

Conclusions: Our study confirms the lack of a significant correlation between the severity of penile curvature and CDDU parameters in men presenting with PD. These findings emerge to be relevant in terms of a more accurate management work-up for PD patients and hold insightful medicolegal implications and in the real-life setting.