[Duplex ultrasound before and after intracavernous papaverine injection in the diagnosis of impotence].

The study of impotentia coeundi requires separating the organic from the psychogenic cause. Arteriogenic impotence falls within the first group and has been assessed with the papaverine test, simple Doppler and arteriography. Currently, more sophisticated techniques such as the pulsed Doppler permit noninvasive assessment of the blood supply to the penile arteries. Intracavernous injection of vasoactive substances such as papaverine cause vascular changes. Evaluation of these changes permits making the diagnosis of arterial insufficiency without recurring to more invasive diagnostic techniques such as arteriography. Currently, this invasive technique is only justified in revascularization surgery but not for diagnosis. The availability of color Doppler facilitates arterial evaluation even further.