Assessment of the Rigidity Changes of Corpus Cavernosum Penis in Vasculary Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Subtypes by Shear Wave Elastography (SWE)

Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that is very common all over the world, concerns about men and causes very important social problems. The aim of this study is to perform quantitative penile corpus cavernosum (CC) stiffness measurements by using SWE for patients with both types of vascular ED. Methods In our study, we handled the data of 101 participants in total. The average age of the participants was 56.36. We divided the participants after color Doppler US (CDUS) into three groups: normal group (n = 30), arterial insufficiency (n = 51), and venous insufficiency (n = 20). SWE measurements were made in both groups in the CC flaccid (f) and rigid (r) positions, and the results were noted. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire and Erection score (ES) were evaluated. Results The mean CC f SWE and r SWE measurement values were 20.2 +/- 0.8 and 17.15 +/- 0.54 kPa, 3.84 +/- 0.13 and 2.78 +/- 0.11 m/s in the arterial insufficiency group; 15.72 +/- 0.58 and 12.52 +/- 0.33 kPa, 2.88 +/- 0.06 and 2.09 +/- 0.11 m/s in the venous insufficiency group; 14.75 +/- 0.51 and 13.41 +/- 0.36 kPa, 2.63 +/- 0.1 and 2.34 +/- 0.11 m/s in the control group, respectively. The CC measurement of f SWE and r SWE values as kPa showed significant differences between the groups (P < .001). Conclusion SWE can provide quantitative data with high specificity and sensitivity while evaluating CC penile stiffness noninvasively. It seems to contribute to the radiological evaluation of ED cases with useful data.