High-flow post-traumatic priapism: diagnostic and therapeutic workup

J Ultrasound. 2021 Dec;24(4):539-545. doi: 10.1007/s40477-020-00449-8. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Abstract

Priapism is a prolonged penile tumescence or erection unrelated to sexual stimulation that lasts more than 6 h. High-flow priapism is a rare condition usually due to a perineal trauma with the formation of an arterio-cavernosal fistula between a cavernosal artery and the lacunar spaces of the penis. High-flow priapism is usually diagnosed by clinical examination and color Doppler ultrasound, and the gold standard therapeutic management is represented by digital subtraction angiography. We report a case of a young patient with high-flow priapism after a motorcycle blunt perineal trauma, examining in detail the specific color Doppler ultrasound findings, the diagnostic workup and the therapeutic management.

Keywords: Color Doppler ultrasound; Digital subtraction angiography; High-flow priapism; Magnetic resonance imaging; Perineal trauma; Transcatheter arterial embolization.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arteries
  • Embolization, Therapeutic*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Penis / diagnostic imaging
  • Priapism* / diagnostic imaging
  • Priapism* / etiology
  • Priapism* / therapy
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color