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Complete penile corporeal septation: evaluation with contrast enhanced US.

Bertolotto M, Bucci S, Quaia E, Coss M, Liguori G

Department of Radiology, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 449, 34149, Trieste, Italy. bertolot@univ.trieste.it

BACKGROUND: Complete penile corporeal septation is a rare malformation in which the corpora cavernosa are completely isolated. We describe a new method to reach the diagnosis of this malformation using contrast enhanced US. METHODS: Two patients with complete penile corporeal septation underwent color Doppler and contrast enhanced US after bilateral cavernosal injection of 10 microg prostaglandin E1. Contrast enhanced US was performed using a contrast specific software (Contrast-Tuned imaging, EsaOte, Genoa, Italy) and a linear transducer designed to evaluate superficial structures. Microbubbles of SonoVue (Bracco, Milan, Italy) were injected in one corpus cavernosum. RESULTS: After cavernosal injection of microbubbles no adverse events were observed. Contrast enhanced US showed unilateral enhancement of the corpus cavernosum in which microbubbles were injected. Cavernosography confirmed unilateral corporeal opacification. CONCLUSION: Contrast enhanced US can be used effectively to diagnose complete penile corporeal septation.

Published 24 July 2008 in Abdom Imaging, 33(5): 621-5.
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