Evaluation of conservative therapeutic approaches to Peyronie's disease (fibrotic induration of the penis).

Conservative approaches to the treatment of Peyronie's disease are limited. Irradiation is of no value because the efficacy has not been proven and it may cause tissue damage requiring or hampering subsequent surgery. Vitamin-E therapy is ineffective and is also not recommended. p-Aminobenzoate treatment has to be discontinued because of intolerance in one third of the cases, and the response rate is not superior to that of a placebo. Local infiltration of the plaques with orgotein (Peroxinorm) results in a marked improvement in just under 50% of cases and is therefore a justified approach in the early stages of the disease. It is, however, unclear how great the placebo effect and the spontaneous remission rate are. Surgery suited to the individual case must be considered in patients with severe angulation of the penis rendering introitus impossible, calcium deposits, or worsening of the condition despite injections of Peroxinorm.