Atherosclerosis of cavernosal arteries as a cause of erectile dysfunction in an adult: our findings on triplex doppler sonography

A sixty year old man presented to our health facility with a year history of severe erectile dysfunction (International Index of Erectile Function Score of 5 (IIEF-5)). He was also a known hypertensive and currently being managed for hypertensive heart disease by the Cardiologist. Colour Doppler interrogation of the Cavernosal Arteries showed multiple areas of narrowing in both arteries, giving beaded appearance. The peak systolic velocities of the arteries were less than 25cm/s, and there was persistent diastolic flow in the entire spectral recordings, prompting the diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to atherosclerosis of the cavernosal arteries. He had medical treatment with PGE5-I, and intracavernosal injection of prostaglandin E1 (Caverjet), but all to no avail. He was counselled for penile implant and he is favourably disposed to that but largely being limited by funds

Ocular axial length measurement among normal adults using magnetic resonance imaging

Background/Introduction: Macrophthalmia and microphthalmia are cardinal signs of many orbito-ocular and systemic diseases which are seen in northern Nigeria. Some cases of refractive error may also be directly related to the ocular axial length (AL). The need for an imaging parameter that will aid their early diagnosis is necessary, as visual compromise is a major consequence if they are not diagnosed and managed appropriately.Aim and Objectives: To use magnetic resonance imaging, to determine the normal AL of the eyeball and to establish the association, if any, between AL and inter-zygomatic line (IZL), age and sex.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted over a 6- month period (29th November 2011 to 28th May 2012) at the Department of Radiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. The anterio-posterior dimension of the globes (AL) and the length of IZL were measured at the level of the lens for 340 normal ocular globes of 170 patients on T1-weighted MR images.Results: The normal ranges for ocular measurements were as follows (mean ± SD): AL of the right globe, 23.32 ± 1.34mm (range 22.0–24.7) and AL of the left globe, 23.29 ± 1.22mm (range 22.10–24.51). The length of the IZL was 103 ± 4.78mm (range 98.2–107.78). All measurements in male patients were significantly higher than those in female patients (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The results obtained from this study may help ophthalmologists, radiologists and other clinicians to quantitatively evaluate patients with macrophthalmia, microphthalmia and/or refractive errors.Keywords: Inter-zygomatic line, magnetic resonance imaging, normal adults, ocular axial lengt