Peyronie's disease

Abstract

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a benign disease of the penis of unknown cause. First fully described almost 300 years ago by François de La Peyronie, although nodus penis has been already described centuries before by Fallopius and Vesalius (Fornara and Gerbershagen 2004). Peyronie's disease is defined as an acquired disorder of the tunica albuginea with the development of a plaque of fibrous tissue, associated with progressive penile bending and shortening. Pain on erection can be the first symptom of the disease in about 10-15% of the patients. As the result of progressive penile deformity, difficulties of penetration can develop with impairment of erectile capacity.