What exactly is calcification? Confused.

[egpd]

I went to a urologist the other day and asked him if an ultrasound would help show if there was any calcification in my penis. He said they no longer do penile ultrasounds but that there was some calcification. I asked him how he knew and he said he could feel it. I asked him if anything can be done for calcification and he said "Not really."

Can a doctor really know you have calcification just from feeling the plaque?

What exactly is calcification and how is it different from a plaque that's not calcified?

It's strange because the plaque actually feels like it's getting softer to me than it was some weeks ago. I also had this same problem in the same spot on my penis 13 years ago and it felt just as hard if not harder than it does now. That plaque basically went away on it's own the first time, so I'm really confused.

From my understanding, calcification is a very advanced state of a plaque and something that's irreversible.

[LWillisjr]

What we refer to as plaque or scar tissue, generally starts out as tissue that doesn't stretch as much as your Tunica. But early on it is a little softer. Over time it can develop into calcified plaque. Meaning there are "spots" in the plaque that have actually started to calcify, and these can slowly get worse or increase in size. On an ultrasound they show up as white spots. I think an experienced doctor can probably tell by the level of hardness or lack of flexibility that some calcification is present. An ultrasound reveals the real picture.

[egpd]

Thanks for the info. Well, I'm not convinced I have "calcification" just because this young urologist in his 20s says he felt it. How would he ever know if someone had true calcification if he never uses ultrasounds to verify it? And how can I know if I really have calcification if they won't give me an ultrasound?