[Peyronie's disease: diagnostics and therapy]

Abstract

Peyronie's disease is a benign disorder of the penis but the etiology is still unknown. A wound healing disorder after repetitive microtraumatic lesions with inelastic scar formation of the tunica albuginea potentially leads to the typical symptoms of penile plaque formation, penile pain, deviation and erectile dysfunction. A non-surgical therapy based on a clear pathophysiology does not exist although the benefit of several conservative treatment options is under discussion. In the stable stage of the disease patients with Peyronie's disease frequently undergo penile surgery. Depending on the deviation angle, the penile length and the erectile dysfunction different straightening surgery can be performed. This article provides an overview of the natural history of the disease and describes present conservative management strategies and common surgical techniques for penile straightening.