Medical Questions » Male Problems Questions » Question No. 609
| Question: | What is the cause of Peyronie' s disease, and can anything be done to correct it by means of drugs, surgery or laser treatment? |
| Answer: | Peyronie' s disease was named after French surgeon Francois de la Peyronie (1678-1747) who was surgeon to Louis XIV, founded the Royal Academy of Surgeons in Paris, and who first described the condition. It is an uncommon problem that causes significant side-to-side (not vertical) curvature of the erect penis and a less firm than normal erection, as the normal tissue of the penis is replaced by fibrous tissue on one side only.
It may be caused by an injury to the penis, narrowing of the artery to one side of the penis (commonly with poorly controlled diabetes or high cholesterol), abnormal nerve supply to the penis or, most frequently, for no known cause. Its incidence increases with age.
There is usually a hard piece of tissue at the base of the penis on the affected side, and ultrasound scans can show the abnormal fibrous tissue in the penis.
Unfortunately, treatment is not very effective. Surgery, sreroid injections and even radiotherapy may be tried, but none of these procedures have a good track record.
The most radical, and most successful treatment, is surgical replacement of the contents of the penis with an inflatable bladder that can be pumped up when an erection is desired. Although complications can occur, 80% success is quoted in reputable centres.
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