Skip to main content

Abnormal Digital Rectal Examination

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 727 Accesses

Abstract

Despite advances in imaging techniques, and evaluation of blood and urine markers, the digital rectal examination (DRE) remains a cornerstone of the urological assessment. Barriers to effective DRE remain embarrassment (of both the patient, and the clinician), lack of thorough assessment (the “nominal” examination), and a lack of experience causes misinterpretation of results. An abnormal DRE almost always requires further investigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Catalona W, Smith D, Ratliff T, Dodds K, Coplen D, Yuan J, Petros J, Andriole G. Measurement of prostate- specific antigen in serum as a screening test for prostate cancer. New Engl J Med. 1991;324:1156–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Godley P. Prostate cancer screening: promise and peril—a review. Cancer Detect Prev. 1999;23:316–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mistry K, Cable G. Meta-analysis of prostate-specific antigen and digital rectal examination as screening tests for prostate carcinoma. J Am Board Fam Med. 2003;16(2):95–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ng T, Vasilareas D, Mitterdorfer A, Maher P, Lalak A. Prostate cancer detection with digital rectal examination, prostate-specific antigen, transrectal ultrasonography and biopsy in clinical urological practice. Brit J Urol Int. 2005;95(4):545–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Okotie O, Roehl K, Han M, Loeb S, Gashti S, Catalona W. Characteristics of prostate cancer detected by digital rectal examination only. Urology. 2007;70(6):1117–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schroder F, van der Maas P, Beemsterboer P, Kruger A, Hoedemaeker R, Rietbergen J, Kranse R. Evaluation of the digital rectal examination as a screening test for prostate cancer. Rotterdam section of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer. J Natl Cancer I. 1998;90(23):1817–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Smith D, Catalona W. Interexaminer variability of digital rectal examination in detecting prostate cancer. Urology. 1995;45(1):70–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Declan G. Murphy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Duthie, J., Freeborn, H., Murphy, D.G. (2014). Abnormal Digital Rectal Examination. In: Challacombe, B., Bott, S. (eds) Diagnostic Techniques in Urology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2766-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2766-6_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-2765-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2766-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics