Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP): diagnosis of complications

Robert P. Hartman, Akira Kawashima, Naoki Takahashi, Andrew J. LeRoy, Bernard F. King

Inflatable penile prostheses are a common treatment for erectile dysfunction that is unresponsive to less-invasive measures. Complications can arise at the time of the placement of the prosthesis or at a later date. Complications may be related to infection and/or mechanical failure of one or more of the prosthesis components including cylinder, reservoir, pump, and tubing. Mechanical failure includes kinking, migration, and aneurysmal dilation of the cylinder, erosion of the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosum by the cylinder, disconnection of the tubing, and migration of the reservoir. MRI of the entire components with the cylinders in both flaccid and inflated states is the best imaging modality available to image patients with suspected implant complications.