Reassessment of the Diagnostic Value of Penile-Brachial Index

Choi, In Gyu; Lee, Young Eun; Kim, Sae Chul

Abstract

Penile-brachial Index(P. B. I) was measured before and after injection of papaverine in 79 psychogenic impotences, 31 arteriogenic impotences and 11 neurogenic impotences. Its diagnostic usefulness was compared with qualities of papaverine induced artificial erection and pudendal angiographic findings. The results were as follows , 1. Among 31 patients with arteriogenic impotence, 17(54.8%) patients were above 0.8 in P. B. I before injection of papaverine. Thus, the arteriogenic impotence could not be excluded in patients of P. B. I. above 0.8. 2. Among the psychogenic impotences, there was no case of P. B. I. below 0.8 after injection of papaverine. So arteriogenic impotence could be like in the case of P. B. I. below 0.8. However, the arteriogenic impotence could not be excluded in the case of P. B. I. above 0.8 because 25(86.6%) patients of arteriogenic impotence were above 0.8. 3. The specificity. sensitivity and efficiency of the P. B. I. concerning prediction of response to papaverine injection were 88.2, 41.2, 80.4% in P. B. I. of 0.8. 4. The specificity, sensitivity and efficiency of the P. B. I. concerning prediction of findings of pudendal angiogram were 71.4, 90.3, 86.8% in P. B. I. of 0.9. In conclusion, it was difficult to establish the base line of normal value of P. B. I. and there was limitation of diagnostic value of the P.B.I.