THE ROLE OF NUCLEAR-MEDICINE IN THE EVALUATION OF THE MALE GENITAL-TRACT

Scintigraphic techniques for evaluation of impotence are still evolving. Blood pool studies are most useful in assessing the integrity of arterial inflow, but may also be used to generate indices of venous leak. A non-imaging version of this test may represent a simple and cost-effective alternative. Washout of intracavernosal xenon during erection seems the most useful method of testing venous integrity. Washout using Tc-RBC may emerge as a convenient alternative to the more technically difficult xenon examinations. Development of more effective pharmacologic stimuli may further improve the utility of this quantitative and physiologic examination. © 1993 W.B. Saunders Company. All rights reserved.