Is digital rectal examination still necessary in the early detection of prostate cancer?
M R Quinlan1, S Teahan, D Mulvin
1Department of Urology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. Mark.Quinlan@ucd.ie
Background:
PSA measurement is important in prostate cancer detection. However, applying cut-off values of >4 ng/ml as indication for biopsy misses 20-30% of tumours.
Aims:
To determine the number of patients with prostate cancer and normal age-related PSA, referred for TRUS biopsy due to abnormal DRE alone.
Methods:
We reviewed patients referred for biopsy over 12 months. Indication for biopsy included abnormal PSA, abnormal DRE, or both.
Results:
Four-hundred and sixty-five (465) TRUS biopsies were performed, 209 were positive. Of the 183 (183/209) positive on whom complete data were available, 4 (2.2%) had a normal age-related PSA but an abnormal DRE.
Conclusions:
Metastatic prostate cancer remains incurable. Therefore detection of organ-confined and potentially curable disease, is crucial. Though PSA has led to earlier detection, this study emphasises the importance of clinical examination, illustrating a normal PSA cannot eliminate the possibility of cancer. DRE and PSA should be interpreted as being collaborative, not competitive.
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