Digital rectal examination as preliminary evaluation of local stage of prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy
Article published in Urologia Polska 2007/60/1.

authors

Zbigniew Wolski, Łukasz Pokrywka, Michał Bryczkowski, Tomasz Drewa: Katedra i Klinika Urologii Ogólnej, Onkologicznej i Dziecięcej Collegium Medicum w Bydgoszczy
Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu

keywords

prostate, prostate cancer, digital rectal examination, radical prostatectomy

summary

Introduction. Estimation of the local stage of the prostate cancer is a crucial point during qualifying the patient for radical treatment.

The aim of the study. Aim of the study was to estimate prostate cancer stage based on the digital rectal examination in patients treated with radical prostatectomy.

Material and method. From January 2002 to June 2004 69 patients were subjected to radical prostatectomy due to prostate cancer diagnosed by ultrasound guided biopsy. Digital rectal examination was done in all patients before the treatment performed by the same experienced urologist. 30 patients with palpable tumor (DRE +) were included to the 1st group. 2nd group consisted of 39 patients with normal digital rectal examination (DRE -). T stage and Gleason score were done before and after the treatment. PSA level, T stage and Gleason score were compared between both groups.

Results. Spearman and Kendall correlation coefficient between abnormal digital rectal examination and prostate capsular invasion amounts to 0.35 and is statistically significant.

Conclusions. 1. Palpable tumor in digital rectal examination clinically estimated as cT2c was associated with capsular invasion in 40% of patients treated with radical prostatectomy. 2. Positive digital rectal examination (DRE +) indicates high probability of prostate capsular invasion. This probability is 4 times higher when compared to DRE (-) group. 3. There is statistical significance between abnormal digital rectal examination and prostate capsular invasion.

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