Penile scintigraphy with 99mTc-human immunoglobulin G: a novel method for distinguishing the unstable and stable phases of Peyronie's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of penile scintigraphy using 99mTc-human immunoglobulin G (IgG) to differentiate the unstable (acute) and stable (chronic) phases of Peyronie's disease (PD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients (25 with PD and seven without) were evaluated using a detailed sexual history, serum chemistry panel, colour Doppler ultrasonography during simultaneous intracavernosal injection of 50 mg papaverine and stimulation, and 99mTc-IgG scanning. When indicated, nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring, dynamic infusion cavernosometry, cavernosonography and cavernosal artery systolic occlusion pressure were measured. After administering 370 MBq of 99mTc-IgG, images were taken at 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. The scans were considered positive if there was any focal accumulation of radiopharmaceutical consistent with PD plaque formation.

RESULTS: Eleven of the 25 patients with PD (mean age 56 years, sd 8) were in the unstable phase, the remaining 14 being in the stable phase. There was a localized increase in 99mTc-IgG activity in 10 patients who had unstable PD. There was complete resolution of increased activity in two patients at 12 and 13 months of follow-up. Of the 14 patients in the stable phase, 12 (at > 1 year) showed neither increased nor decreased 99mTc-IgG activity. In the remaining two patients there was increased activity on the plaque side. There was no local increase in activity in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Inflammatory reactions can develop at various intervals during the unstable phase of PD. Medical methods should be used during the unstable phase and surgery delayed until the stable phase of the disease begins. An objective method of differentiating between the phases is therefore important. Penile 99mTc-IgG imaging is a new diagnostic approach for confirming the unstable phase of PD.