Penile Ultrasound Lecture Review

Practice flashcards covering penile anatomy, ultrasound imaging protocols, and common pathologies such as Peyronie's disease and penile fractures based on lecture notes.

Penile Ultrasound

A non-invasive imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to safely visualize internal penile structures, including the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.

Doppler Blood Flow Imaging

An ultrasound mode used to assess penile blood flow to aid in the diagnosis of erectile and vascular conditions.

Corpora Cavernosa

The two dorsal structures within the penis that contain vascular tissue and become engorged with blood during an erection.

Corpus Spongiosum

The single ventral structure of the penis that surrounds the urethra.

High-frequency Linear Array Transducer

The recommended ultrasound probe for optimal penile imaging, typically ranging from $7-18\,MHz$.

Peyronie's Disease

A benign connective tissue disorder of the tunica albuginea characterized by the formation of fibrous, inelastic plaques that cause penile curvature.

Tunica Albuginea

The tough, fibrous layer surrounding the corpora cavernosa that thins from approximately $2\,mm$ in a flaccid state to $0.25-0.5\,mm$ when erect.

Dupuytren's Contracture

A condition associated with the genetic predisposition and etiology of Peyronie's disease.

Ultrasound Elastography (UE)

An imaging technique that measures tissue rigidity, providing quantitative data on plaque stiffness where blue indicates stiff tissue and red indicates soft tissue.

Young's Modulus

The elastic modulus quantified by shear-wave methods to assess the mechanical properties of plaques non-invasively.

Intracavernosal Injection

The pharmacological induction of an erection, often using prostaglandin E1, to evaluate penile vascular function under physiologic conditions.

Arterial Insufficiency

A vascular cause of erectile dysfunction characterized by poor arterial inflow into the penis.

Veno-occlusive Dysfunction

Also known as venous leak, it is the failure to maintain blood within the corpora cavernosa during an erection.

Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV)

A Doppler measurement used to evaluate arterial inflow within the cavernosal arteries.

End Diastolic Velocity (EDV)

A Doppler measurement used to evaluate venous outflow within the cavernosal arteries.

Resistive Index (RI)

An ultrasound metric used to assess the overall vascular resistance during a penile Doppler exam.

Priapism

A prolonged erection lasting more than $4\,hours$ that must be treated promptly to prevent tissue damage.

Penile Fracture

A tear in the tunica albuginea caused by sudden force or bending of the erect shaft, often resulting in a popping sound and rapid detumescence.

Eggplant Deformity

The characteristic clinical appearance of swelling and discoloration following a penile fracture.

Hyperechoic Plaques

An ultrasound finding in Peyronie's disease where plaques appear bright, often associated with posterior acoustic shadowing if calcified.