Purpose: The major clinical use of dorsal nerve somatosensory evoked potential(DN-SEP) test is to provide an objective evaluation of the peripheral and central afferent pathway of penile sensation. We analyzed the diagnostic value of single DN-SEP test for localizing the lesion in neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) patients.
Materials and Methods: The subjects included 26 normal men, 10 vasculogenic and 19 neurogenic ED patients. Among the neurogenic ED patients, 10 had upper motor neuron (UMN), and the others lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion. We recorded DN-SEP from these groups at the T12 vertebral level(Peripheral conduction time) and Cz' (total conduction time) position in the international electroencephalogram 10-20 system. The central conduction time (CT) was determined by the difference between these two latency lavues.
Results: the average value of the peripheral, central and total CT in normal group was 12.69±1.08, 28.12±2.45, 40.81±3.01msec respectively. The central and total CT prolonged significantly in UMN lesion group. The peripheral and total CT prolonged significantly in LMN lesion group.
Conclusions: DN-SEP test can localize whether the neurogenic lesion is UMN or LMN in neurogenic ED. (Korean J Urol 2000; 41:645~9)