Assessment of the Rigidity Changes of Corpus Cavernosum Penis in Vasculary Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Subtypes by Shear Wave Elastography (SWE).

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that is very common all over the world, concerns about men and causes very important social problems. The aim of this study is to perform quantitative penile corpus cavernosum (CC) stiffness measurements by using SWE for patients with both types of vascular ED. METHODS: In our study, we handled the data of 101 participants in total. The average age of the participants was 56.36. We divided the participants after color Doppler US (CDUS) into three groups: normal group (n = 30), arterial insufficiency (n = 51), and venous insufficiency (n = 20). SWE measurements were made in both groups in the CC flaccid (f) and rigid (r) positions, and the results were noted. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire and Erection score (ES) were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean CC f SWE and r SWE measurement values were 20.2 ± 0.8 and 17.15 ± 0.54 kPa, 3.84 ± 0.13 and 2.78 ± 0.11 m/s in the arterial insufficiency group; 15.72 ± 0.58 and 12.52 ± 0.33 kPa, 2.88 ± 0.06 and 2.09 ± 0.11 m/s in the venous insufficiency group; 14.75 ± 0.51 and 13.41 ± 0.36 kPa, 2.63 ± 0.1 and 2.34 ± 0.11 m/s in the control group, respectively. The CC measurement of f SWE and r SWE values as kPa showed significant differences between the groups (P < .001). CONCLUSION: SWE can provide quantitative data with high specificity and sensitivity while evaluating CC penile stiffness noninvasively. It seems to contribute to the radiological evaluation of ED cases with useful data.

Shear wave elastography in optic neuritis: diagnostic accuracy of the optic nerve and adjacent fat tissue values.

Introduction: In this study, we attempt to determine the diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography of the optic nerve and adjacent fat tissue in patients with optic neuritis. Methods: The study included a patient group consisting of 72 eyes of 36 patients who were diagnosed with unilateral optic neuritis, and an age-matched control group of 36 eyes of 18 healthy subjects. The patient group consisted of 25 multiple sclerosis patients and 11 recurrent isolated optic neuritis patients. The mean shear wave elastography values of the optic nerves and intraorbital fat tissue adjacent optic nerves were recorded using m/s and kPa as units. ROC curve analysis was performed, and the diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography values was determined. Results: The mean shear wave elastography values of the optic nerves with neuritis (2.49 ± 0.41 m/s and 17.56 ± 4.42 kPa) were significantly higher than the values of the contralateral normal optic nerves (1.71 ± 0.32 m/s and 9.02 ± 2.34 kPa) (p = 0.006 and p = 0.004, respectively) in the optic neuritis group. The mean shear wave elastography values of intraorbital fat tissue adjacent optic nerves with neuritis (1.87 ± 0.32 m/s and 9.65 ± 1.12 kPa) were significantly higher than the values of the contralateral normal side (1.47 ± 0.27 m/s and 6.78 ± 1.14 kPa) (p = 0.025 and p = 0.022, respectively) in the optic neuritis group. ROC curve analysis showed a high diagnostic accuracy for determining optic neuritis with shear wave elastography values of the optic nerves (AUC 0.955 [95% CI, 0.933-0.978] in m/s and AUC 0.967 [95% CI, 0.940-0.985] in kPa). Conclusions: Shear wave elastography may be an important alternative diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of optic neuritis.

Testicular stiffness in varicocele: evaluation with shear wave elastography.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the evaluation of testes in patients with varicocele. METHODS: A total of 116 testes of 58 patients with left-sided varicocele and 58 testes of 29 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The patients' testes were classified into groups A (normospermic) and B (oligospermic) based on the presence of oligospermia. The mean SWE values and volume of the testes with varicocele were compared with the contralateral normal testes of the patients and the testes of healthy controls. RESULTS: The mean SWE value of the left testes in groups A (4.77±1.16 kPa) and B (6.15±1.96 kPa) exceeded that of the healthy controls (3.79±0.94 kPa) (P<0.001). The mean SWE value of the left testes in group B (6.15±1.96 kPa) exceeded that of group A (4.77±1.16 kPa) (P=0.002). No correlation was observed between testicular stiffness and the grade of varicocele (r=0.102, P=0.423). CONCLUSION: The testes with varicocele were stiffer than the contralateral testes and the testes of healthy controls, and SWE might play an auxiliary role to conventional ultrasonography in assessing pathologic alterations in the testis owing to varicocele.

Associated anomalies and clinical outcome in children with ectopic kidney.

Urological anomalies can be seen in children with renal ectopia (RE) and can result in renal impairment. Therefore, we evaluated associated anomalies and renal outcome in our patients with RE. Sixty-eight children who were diagnosed with RE between January 2009-May 2014 were retrospectively studied. A total of 68 patients, 36 (52.9%) boys, with a median age of 67 months (4-201) and a median follow-up period of 14 months (3-113) were included in the study. Simple RE (S-RE) was found in 51 (75%) patients, of which 46 were unilateral and five were bilateral (discoid kidney). Crossed RE (C-RE) was detected in 17 (25%) patients. Voiding cystourethrogram was performed in 21/51 (41.2%) patients in S-RE group and 5/17 (29.4%) in C-RE group. We did not find vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in any of the patients with C-RE, whereas, in S-RE group, VUR was demonstrated in six (6/21 - 28.6%) patients. Pelviureteric junction obstruction in ectopic kidney was found in two patients with S-RE and one with C-RE. Two patients (2/17 - 11.7%) had neurogenic bladder due to meningomyelocele, accompanied by imperforate anus in C-RE group. There were no significant differences in other associated urological anomalies between two groups. Renal impairment developed mostly in patients with additional urinary anomaly. The children with RE may have associated urinary anomalies, of which VUR is the most common. Complete urological investigation and regular follow-up are required in selected cases.

Unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney in children.

This study was performed to evaluate the clinical course and renal outcome of patients with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 59 cases with MCDK followed at Sanliurfa Children's Hospital between January 2009 and February 2013. The median age of the patients (boys 52.5%) was 31 months (range: 6-197) and the median follow-up period was 23 months (range: 6-111). Forty-two (71.2%) patients were diagnosed antenatally. The MCDKs were found more often on the right side (55.9%). The most frequently associated urological abnormality was contralateral vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) (26.6%). A total of 3 (5%) patients developed chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), 2 of whom had grade IV and V VUR; the other patient with CRI had a small and hyperechogenic contralateral kidney, suggesting dysplasia-hypoplasia, without any urological anomalies on imaging studies. The size of MCDK was unchanged in 20 (34%), had regressed in 26 (44%), and had increased in 9 (15.3%) patients. Total involution was documented in 4 (6.7%) patients. Compensatory hypertrophy occurred in 36/45 (80%) patients, with a mean age of 19.2±8.3 months. Proteinuria and hypertension were detected in 1 (1.7 %) patient each. In conclusion, abnormalities in the contralateral kidney in patients with MCDK increase the risk of renal failure. An initial investigation for associated urinary tract malformations should be done and the growth and function of the contralateral kidney, hypertension, and proteinuria should be monitored in all children with MCDK.