Reversed priapism, thrombosis of the dorsal penile vein: A case report

Radiol Case Rep. 2022 Nov 24;18(2):467-471. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2022.10.066. eCollection 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Priapism is an unintentional prolonged penile erection, lasting equal to or greater than 4 hours, in the absence of sexual stimulation or after having finished it. It is a rare pathology that can represent a urological emergency. The present report describes the case of a 25-year-old patient who presented priapism after suffering a one-meter fall on the genital area. Patient is a 25-year-old male with macroscopic hematuria without clots, testicular pain 4/10 on the numerical pain scale, stabbing type, without irradiation, secondary to a fall that occurred 3 months earlier, which resulted in a blow to the genital area. He presented an evolution of 20 days with detumescence and erectile dysfunction. Penile Doppler was performed and inverted priapism, arteriolacunar fistula at the base of the left corpus cavernosum, plus severe erectile dysfunction, were diagnosed. After a cavernography and an arteriography, a thrombolysis was performed. The patient continued with anticoagulant treatment with clopidogrel and enoxaparin and did not present complications after thrombolysis. A detailed clinical history, physical examination and a Doppler ultrasound study can provide a clear and timely diagnosis for the patient. Cavernography and arteriography have shown satisfactory results. In the present case, thrombolysis treatment with alteplase provided favorable results.

Keywords: Inverted priapism; Severe erectile dysfunction; Thrombolysis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports