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. 2009 Jan;23(1):37-40.
doi: 10.1155/2009/721870.

Do patients undergo prostate examination while having a colonoscopy?

Tess Hammett  1 , Lawrence C Hookey, Jun Kawakami
Affiliations

Do patients undergo prostate examination while having a colonoscopy?

Tess Hammett et al. Can J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jan.

Abstract
in English, French

Objectives: To determine the rate at which physicians report performing a digital rectal examination and comment on the prostate gland before performing colonoscopy in men 50 to 70 years of age.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all men 50 to 70 years of age who had a colonoscopy in Kingston, Ontario, in 2005 was completed. It was noted whether each physician described performing a digital rectal examination before the colonoscopy, and if so, whether he or she commented on the prostate.

Results: In 2005, 846 eligible colonoscopies were performed by 17 physicians in Kingston, Ontario. In 29.2% of cases, the physician made no comment about having performed a digital rectal examination; in 55.8% of cases, the physician commented on having completed a digital rectal examination but said nothing about the prostate; and in 15.0% of cases, the physician made a comment regarding the prostate. No physician consistently commented on the prostate for all patients, and in no circumstances was direct referral to another physician or follow-up suggested.

Discussion: A colonoscopy presents an ideal opportunity for physicians to use a digital rectal examination to assess for prostate cancer. Physicians performing colonoscopies in men 50 to 70 years of age should pay special attention to the prostate while performing a digital rectal examination before colonoscopy. This novel concept may help maximize resources for cancer screening and could potentially increase the detection rate of clinically palpable prostate cancer.

OBJECTIF :: Déterminer dans quelle proportion les médecins disent procéder à un toucher rectal et formuler des commentaires sur la prostate de leurs patients de sexe masculin âgés de 50 à 70 ans chez qu’ils s’apprêtent à effectuer une coloscopie.

MÉTHODE :: Les auteurs ont analysé rétrospectivement les dossiers de tous les hommes de 50 à 70 ans qui ont subi une coloscopie à Kingston, en Ontario, en 2005. Ils ont vérifié si les médecins avaient mentionné avoir fait un toucher rectal avant la coloscopie et, le cas échéant, s’ils avaient formulé des commentaires sur l’état de la glande.

RÉSULTATS :: En 2005, 846 coloscopies jugées admissibles aux fins de la présente étude ont été effectuées par 17 médecins de Kingston, en Ontario. Dans 29,2 % des cas, le médecin n’a pas fait mention d’un toucher rectal. Dans 55,8 % des cas, le médecin a signalé avoir fait un toucher rectal, mais sans fournir de renseignements sur l’état de la prostate et dans 15,0 % des cas, le médecin a commenté l’état de la prostate. Aucun des médecins n’a systématiquement commenté l’état de la prostate chez tous ses patients et aucun n’a mentionné avoir orienté un patient vers un collègue en vue d’une consultation directe ou d’un suivi.

DISCUSSION :: La coloscopie est l’occasion idéale d’effectuer un toucher rectal dans le but de dépister le cancer de la prostate. Les médecins qui effectuent des coloscopies chez des hommes de 50 à 70 ans devraient porter une attention spéciale à la prostate lorsqu’ils procèdent au toucher rectal avant la coloscopie. Cette nouvelle mesure permettrait une utilisation plus judicieuse des ressources en matière de dépistage du cancer et augmenterait potentiellement le taux de dépistage des cancers de la prostate palpables.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Percentage of cases in which the physician reported performing a digital rectal examination (DRE) before colonoscopy (70.8%) and in which the physician commented on the prostate while performing a DRE (15.0%)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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