Diagnostic radiologique de l'impuissance masculine

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction has a wide range of aetiologies. Among organic disorders, vascular origin is by far the most common type; it may be either a veno-occlusive dysfunction or an arterial insufficiency by reduction of flux in atherosclerosis. These two subtypes are frequently associated and present in numerous diseases. Ultrasonography with Doppler analysis after intracavernous injection of a vasoactive substance is a major first-line investigation for initial diagnosis. The strict technical procedure makes this examination able to establish a definite and accurate diagnosis for arterial insufficiency and to suspect veno-occlusive dysfunction. Invasive methods have been replaced progressively by Doppler examination. The reason may be the availability of new efficient drugs and also the variable results obtained from surgery and vascular interventional radiology. Other techniques such as CT or MRI, today under clinical evaluation, are promising.