Color Doppler imaging of posttraumatic priapism before and after selective embolization

Abstract

High-flow priapism usually follows perineal or penile trauma with disruption of an intracavernosal artery. Angiographic embolization of the lacerated artery is currently considered the treatment of choice. The contribution of gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasonography (US) in diagnosis and treatment of 10 patients with high-flow priapism was investigated. In patients with recent arterial laceration, the cavernous tissue surrounding the arterial-sinusoidal fistula appears as a hypoechoic region with undefined margins. In long-standing priapism, this area is usually more regular and circumscribed, mimicking a pseudoaneurysm. Color Doppler US is highly sensitive for detection of the arterial-sinusoidal fistula that causes extravasation of blood from the lacerated cavernosal artery. After angiography, color Doppler US allows confirmation of both successful embolization by demonstrating disappearance or size reduction of the fistula and unsuccessful treatment by demonstrating patency of collateral feeding vessels or early recanalization of the embolized artery. Limitations of color Doppler US include underestimation of the number of accessory feeding vessels, which may become patent only after embolization of the main vascular supply, and difficulty in recognizing vessels that feed the fistula from the opposite side.