MR Imaging of the Penis

The signal intensity of the corpora cavernosa of the penis at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may vary from that of the corpus spongiosum; this difference is dependent on the rate of blood flow within the cavernous spaces that constitute the corporal bodies. Also visible at MR imaging are the layers of fibrous tissue that envelop the corporal bodies, the deep arteries and veins, subcutaneous connective tissue, tunica dartos, epidermis, and urethra. While the iliac, pudendal, perineal, and common penile arteries can be evaluated with three-dimensional MR angiography, the smaller end arteries of the penis have not yet been reliably demonstrated. MR imaging may be used to detect and stage penile and urethral cancers, identify and characterize benign penile masses, evaluate arteriogenic impotence, identify penile fractures, evaluate penile prostheses, localize periurethral abscesses, and identify plaques of Peyronie disease. With its direct multiplanar imaging capabilities, superb soft-tissue contrast, and excellent spatial resolution, high-field surface coil MR imaging can show the soft-tissue and vascular anatomy of the penis, as well as the appearance of many penile diseases.