Overview Of Peyronie Disease
Curvature of the penis is an abnormal bend in the penis that occurs during erection. It is also called Peyronie disease.
Commonly Associated With
Curvature of the penis; Plastic induration of the penis; penile fibromatosis; fibrous sclerosis of the penis; Van Buren’s disease
Causes Of Peyronie Disease
In Peyronie disease, fibrous scar tissue develops in the deep tissues of the penis. The cause of this fibrous tissue is often not known. It can occur spontaneously. It can also be due to a previous injury to the penis, even one that occurred many years ago.
Fracture of the penis (injury during intercourse) can lead to this condition. Men are at higher risk of developing curvature of the penis after surgery or radiation treatment for prostate cancer.
Peyronie disease is uncommon. It affects men ages 40 to 60 and older.
Curvature of the penis can occur along with Dupuytren contracture. This is a cord-like thickening across the palm of one or both hands. It is a fairly common disorder in white men over age 50. However, only a very small number of people with Dupuytren contracture develop curvature of the penis.
Other risk factors have not been found. However, people with this condition have a certain type of immune cell marker, which indicates that it may be inherited.
Newborns may have a curvature of the penis. This may be part of an abnormality called chordee, which is different from Peyronie disease.
Symptoms Of Peyronie Disease
You or your health care provider may notice an abnormal hardening of the tissue below the skin, in one area along the shaft of the penis. It may also feel like a hard lump or bump.
During an erection, there may be:
- A bend in the penis, which most often begins at the area where you feel the scar tissue or hardening
- Softening of the portion of the penis beyond the area of scar tissue
- Narrowing of the penis
- Pain
- Problems with penetration or pain during intercourse
- Shortening of the penis
Exams & Tests
The provider can diagnose curvature of the penis with a physical exam. The hard plaques can be felt with or without an erection.
The provider may give you a shot of medicine to cause an erection. Or, you may provide your provider with pictures of the erect penis for evaluation.
An ultrasound may show the scar tissue in the penis. However, this test is not necessary.
Treatment Of Peyronie Disease
At first, you may not need treatment. Some or all of the symptoms may improve over time or may not get worse.
Treatments may include:
- Corticosteroid injections into the fibrous band of tissue.
- Potaba (a medicine taken by mouth).
- Radiation therapy.
- Shock wave lithotripsy.
- Verapamil injection (a medicine used to treat high blood pressure).
- Vitamin E.
- Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex) is a new injection option to treat curvature.
- However, not all of these treatments help very much if at all. Some may also cause more scarring.
If medicine and lithotripsy do not help, and you are unable to have intercourse because of the curve of the penis, surgery may be done to correct the problem. However, some types of surgery may cause impotence. It should only be done if intercourse is impossible.
A penile prosthesis may be the best treatment choice for curvature of the penis with impotence.
