The management of penile fracture based on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with repairing penile fracture, based on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 2002 and October 2004, 14 men (19-64 years old) presented to our centre with a penile fracture. Two patients had urethral bleeding. MRI was used before surgery in all patients, and the repair comprised a localized longitudinal penile incision in 13 men. This incision was designed according to the tunical tear site and size already depicted by MRI. One case was managed conservatively, as MRI confirmed an intercavernosal haematoma with no tunical tear. The follow-up was 4-21 months. RESULTS: The tear involved one corpus cavernosum in 11 patients; two were associated with urethral injury. The course after repair was uneventful in all men; the follow-up showed no erectile dysfunction in any. The patients reported neither pain nor penile curvature during erection. CONCLUSION: MRI is a simple and informative investigation for evaluating and documenting a penile fracture, and it improves the management plan.     

The value of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of penile fracture

Purpose

We studied the use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of penile fracture.

Materials and Methods

Between 1997 and 2012, fifteen patients (age range 17-48 years, mean age 37 years) with suspected penile fracture underwent MRI examinations. Ten patients were injured during sexual intercourse, whereas four patients were traumatized by non-physiological bending of the penis during self manupilation, one patient was traumatized falling from the bed. Investigations were performed with 1.5T MR unit. With the patient in the supine position, the penis was taped against the abdominal wall and surface coil was placed on the penis. All patients were studied with axial, coronal, sagittal precontrast and postcontrast T1-weighted TSE(TR/TE:538/13 msn) and T2-weighted TSE(5290/110 msn) sequences. All patient underwent surgical exploration. The follow-up ranged from 3 months to 72 months. Clinically all patients showed normal healing process without complications. In 11 patients a shortening and thickening of tunica albuginea was observed. Three patients have post traumatic erectil disfunction.

Results

In all patient corpus cavernosum fractures were clearly depicted on a discontinuity of the low signal intensity of tunica albuginea. These findings were most evident on T1WI and also depicted on T2W sequences. Images obtained shortly after contrast medium administration showed considerable enhancement only in rupture site. Subcutaneous extratunical haematoma in all patients were also recognizable on T2 WI. MRI findings were confirmed at surgery.

Conclusions

Magnetic resonance imaging is of great value for the diagnosis of penile fracture. Furthermore this method is well suited for visualising the post-operative healing process     

Radiological assessment of penile prosthesis: the role of magnetic resonance imaging

Penile implants offer a dependable way of restoring erections in virtually all motivated patients. The satisfaction rate among both patients and partners using these devices is high. Advances in technology have reduced the infection rate and increased the mechanical reliability of these products. However, too often, urologists do not present this option with the same authority as other treatments. The reason is fear of complications and lack of expertise in managing them. Although they are not very frequent, complications may be catastrophic. The most significant postoperative complication associated with the implant surgery is infection of the device, which is quite frequent, but some other important complications are distal and proximal perforation of the albuginea, SST deformity, S-shaped deformity of the penis, erosion of a component, and mechanical malfunction of the device. The best way to manage complications is to prevent them, but we do not have many diagnostic tools available. Diagnosis is based on clinical history and physical examination, but imaging techniques are also needed to explore the prosthesis in situ to plan the surgical approach if it is needed. In this article we review the different imaging techniques used for the diagnosis of complications of prosthetic surgery of the penis, including conventional radiology, use of sonography, the role of CT scan and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the penile prosthesis. We conclude that MRI is the most valuable method for the diagnosis of penile prosthesis complications. It is not an ionizing radiation imaging method and has the unique feature among imaging techniques of demonstrating penile anatomy in three orthogonal planes. It is superior to any other imaging method in the definition of soft tissue contrast.     

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the local staging of penile cancer

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a local staging technique in penile cancer and its role in selecting patients for conservative surgical management. METHODS: Fifty-five men diagnosed with invasive penile carcinoma on biopsy were locally staged with the use of MRI. Prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil) was injected into the corpora to induce an artificial erection. Radiologic staging was compared against final histopathologic stage of the tumour. Sensitivity, specificity, and kappa agreement values were calculated for each tumour stage. Additionally, corpora cavernosa involvement was reviewed in 20 consecutive cases and suitability for conservative surgery assessed. RESULTS: A good correlation between radiologic and histologic staging was achieved with an overall kappa value of 0.75 (p<0.001). Stage-specific sensitivities and specificities were calculated: T1 (85%; 83%), T2 (75%; 89%), and T3 (88%; 98%). MRI accurately predicted corpora cavernosa invasion in all cases of pathologically proven disease. These patients were selected to undergo partial penectomy. There were no complications using this imaging technique. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that penile MRI is highly accurate in the local staging of penile cancer. Associated improvements in surgical planning allow the provision of conservative surgical treatments over more radical procedures.     

Subacute pituitary apoplexy: clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics

Between 1987 and 1988, we utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of seven cases of "subacute" pituitary apoplexy, that is, intra-adenomatous pituitary hemorrhage associated with clinical symptoms atypical of acute pituitary apoplexy. These symptoms lasted longer than 24 hours and included visual changes in four patients, headache in five, and seizures, endocrine dysfunction, and oculomotor palsy in one each. Estimates of the ages of the hemorrhages were also possible based on characteristics on the MRI scan and ranged from 48 hours to more than 14 days. Four of our seven patients underwent transsphenoidal decompression at which time the presence of intratumoral hemorrhage was confirmed. The remaining three patients have been followed as outpatients with serial MRI examinations and have shown improvement in clinical symptoms and stabilization of the radiological picture. From our series of patients, it is now apparent that the MRI scan is an invaluable tool in identifying this subacute form of intra-adenomatous pituitary hemorrhage and has proven especially useful as a means of therapeutic planning and follow-up care in patients presenting with symptoms not typical of classic pituitary apoplexy.     

多发神经鞘瘤

目的 探讨多发神经鞘瘤的临床特点和治疗方法。方法 对１９７５年１月～１９９９年１２月收治的９例多发神经鞘瘤进行回顾性分析。结果 ９例中有７例术前发现肿瘤数目少于术中所见。９例均行手术治疗,其中５例行剥除术,４例行神经切除术,术后４例复发。结论 多发神经鞘瘤术前检查不易明确肿瘤数目,充分的朴前检查包括ＭＲＩ是必要的。对重要神经上的多发神经鞘瘤应行剥除术。该病术后容易局部复发。     

Magnetic resonance imaging of a penile fracture.

A case of a penile fracture is reported. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging clearly demonstrated the tear of the tunica albuginea. MR imaging helps us to decide the site of the skin incision.     

Renal magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Current magnetic resonance imaging systems allow the visualization of normal and diseased kidney, with exquisite resolution of renal structures. Dynamic contrast magnetic resonance imaging has the potential, unique among all noninvasive modalities, to differentiate diseases that affect different portions of the vascular-nephron system. This article reviews the most important recently published studies in selected topics chosen because of their clinical relevance or potential for technical developments. RECENT FINDINGS: Magnetic resonance imaging is used increasingly to evaluate renal masses, the prenatal genitourinary system, urinary obstruction and infection, renal vasculature, and the kidneys of transplant donors and recipients. Dynamic contrast magnetic resonance renography based on gadolinium chelated to diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, a safe (non-nephrotoxic) paramagnetic agent, emerges as the functional renal imaging modality of choice. Both perfusion and filtration rates can be assessed in individual kidney. SUMMARY: Magnetic resonance imaging has the potential to provide a complete anatomic, physiologic, kidney-specific evaluation. With future advances in automated image analysis methods we can expect functional renal magnetic resonance imaging to play an influential role in management of renal disease.     

Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of prostate cancer

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are evolving techniques that offer noninvasive evaluation of anatomic and metabolic features of prostate cancer. The ability of MRI to determine the location and extent of the tumor and to identify metastatic spread is useful in the pretreatment setting, enabling treatment decision-making that is evidence-based. MRSI of the prostate gland expands the diagnostic assessment of prostate cancer through the detection of cellular metabolites, and can lead to noninvasive differentiation of cancer from healthy tissue. MRI/MRSI can also be used to evaluate both local and systemic recurrence, with endorectal MRI being capable of detecting local recurrence, even in patients with rising serum PSA level but no palpable tumor on digital rectal examination. Considering the benefits that MRI and MRSI have been shown to offer patients, the skills and technology required to perform these tests should be widely disseminated to make their routine use possible. Teamwork between members of radiology, pathology, urology and radiation oncology departments is essential in order to exploit these technologies fully.