[Transrectal echography and cancer of the prostate. II. Comparison with digital examination of the rectum]

A comparative study was performed to determine the usefulness and diagnostic capacity in cancer of the prostate afforded by two different techniques: digital examination and transrectal ultrasonography. Our experience in 69 cases of prostate cancer show that more information is provided by transrectal ultrasound. Thus, the diagnostic capacity and usefulness of transrectal ultrasonography in the management of prostate cancer is greater than that of digital examination. However, on the sole basis of the number of cancers diagnosed, both techniques have very similar values for specificity, while transrectal ultrasonography is slightly superior with respect to sensitivity. The foregoing findings simply show that although both techniques have a similar diagnostic capacity, transrectal ultrasonography provides further important information (size, bladder involvement, graphic representation, etc.) that make it overall more useful and superior to the other technique in the management of prostate cancer.