Digital rectal examination versus transrectal ultrasound in detection of prostate cancer. Preliminary results from a study of a randomly selected population

Abstract

In a study of 2,400 randomly selected men (age 55-70 years) for early detection of prostate cancer the authors have compared the diagnostic value of digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and prostate specific antigen (PSA). Altogether 62 prostate cancers were detected, corresponding to a detection rate of 3.5% but by use of DRE the detection rate was only 2.3%. The study showed that TRUS added significantly to the detection rate. If radical surgery is restricted to stages T1 and T2A, the combined use of DRE and TRUS detected twice as many cases fit for this treatment than DRE alone. The authors advocate randomized studies for evaluation of early radical treatment of prostate cancer. Before results of such studies have appeared they recommend methodological studies aimed at development and enhancement of the accuracy of the diagnostic tools.