Equivocal penile fracture clarified by MRI

Abstract

Blunt penile trauma is a common occurrence that infrequently results in penile fracture, a surgical emergency. Ultrasound has historically been used as a modality to rule out fracture in cases whose histories are equivocal. However, in recent years, MRI has shown to be superior to ultrasound in ruling out penile fractures. We present a patient who had blunt penile trauma and the diagnosis of penile fracture was equivocal based on history and physical exam, who underwent an MRI to rule out fracture, revealing a hematoma under the bulbospongiosus muscle.