Illiano Ester, Trama Francesco, Ruffo Antonio, Romeo Giuseppe, Riccardo Filippo, Iacono Fabrizio, Costantini Elisabetta
Andrology and Urogynecology Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Andrology and Urogynecology Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, Viale Tristano di Jannuccio 1 Terni, Perugia, 06123, Italy.
Ther Adv Urol. 2021 Apr 19;13:17562872211007978. doi: 10.1177/17562872211007978. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.
Shear wave elastosonography (SWE) could be used to evaluate the elasticity of penile tissue. Few studies in the literature, however, have investigated its use in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) or have attempted to correlate findings with International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of erectile tissue using SWE and to determine possible relationships with IIEF-5 and Erection Hardness Scale (EHS) scores. The secondary aim was to establish a cut-off SWE examination value over which cavernous tissue stiffness could contribute to a subsequent organic alteration.
This prospective study included male patients 18-80 years of age who attended two general andrology clinics and underwent SWE. Subjects were divided into groups according to IIEF-5 score, and correlations between SWE and IIEF-5 and EHS questionnaire scores were explored.
A total of 270 subjects (mean age 46.7 ± 16.9 years) were included. ED was reflected by low IIEF-5 and EHS scores and a decrease in the mean elasticity of the corpora cavernosa according to SWE, although the difference between the left and right corpora cavernosa was not statistically significant. No statistically significant correlation was found between measurements of the corpora cavernosa (in kPa) and age. The optimal cut-off identified was 24.75 kPa.
Results demonstrated that the mean elasticity of the corpora cavernosa according to SWE was correlated with IIEF-5 score and EHS score.
剪切波弹性成像（SWE）可用于评估阴茎组织的弹性。然而，文献中很少有研究探讨其在勃起功能障碍（ED）患者中的应用，或试图将研究结果与国际勃起功能指数（IIEF-5）评分相关联。本研究的主要目的是使用SWE评估勃起组织的特征，并确定其与IIEF-5和勃起硬度评分（EHS）之间可能存在的关系。次要目的是确定一个SWE检查临界值，超过该值时海绵体组织硬度可能导致随后的器质性改变。
这项前瞻性研究纳入了年龄在18至80岁之间、在两家普通男科诊所就诊并接受SWE检查的男性患者。根据IIEF-5评分将受试者分组，并探讨SWE与IIEF-5及EHS问卷评分之间的相关性。
共纳入270名受试者（平均年龄46.7±16.9岁）。低IIEF-5和EHS评分以及根据SWE显示的海绵体平均弹性降低反映了ED，尽管左右海绵体之间的差异无统计学意义。未发现海绵体测量值（kPa）与年龄之间存在统计学显著相关性。确定的最佳临界值为24.75 kPa。
结果表明，根据SWE得出的海绵体平均弹性与IIEF-5评分和EHS评分相关。
