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Published on: November 2, 2013
Screening digital rectal examination and prostate cancer mortality: a population-based case-control study
S J Jacobsen1, E J Bergstralh, S K Katusic
1Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Urology
|August 11, 1998
Summary
Digital rectal examination (DRE) shows a strong inverse association with prostate cancer mortality. Screening DREs may potentially prevent a significant percentage of prostate cancer deaths.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Digital rectal examination (DRE) is a widely recommended screening tool for prostate cancer detection.
- Despite recommendations, robust clinical evidence for DRE's efficacy in reducing prostate cancer mortality is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate cancer mortality.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of DRE in a population-based setting.
Main Methods:
- A population-based case-control study was conducted using data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project.
- Medical records of 173 men who died of prostate cancer and matched controls were reviewed for DRE history up to 10 years prior to diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Men who died of prostate cancer were less likely to have undergone DRE before diagnosis (OR=0.51).
- The inverse association was stronger for DREs performed without suspicion of symptoms (OR=0.31).
- Adjustments for demographic and comorbidity factors did not significantly alter these findings.
Conclusions:
- A significant inverse association exists between DRE and prostate cancer mortality.
- Screening DREs could potentially prevent a substantial proportion of prostate cancer deaths, warranting further investigation into causality.
