Role of digital rectal examination and prostate specific antigen in detecting carcinoma prostate.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the ability of digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in detecting carcinoma prostate.

DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The study was conducted in the Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation from December 1996 to December 1999.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred patients entered the protocol. They presented with complaint of prostatism or retention of urine. The patients were evaluated with estimation of serum prostate specific antigen and digital rectal examination was performed. Prostatic tissue biopsy was also done.

RESULTS

Digital rectal examination has shown sensitivity of 63% and specificity of 73.22%. The sensitivity of PSA was 87% and specificity was 70.8%. The positive predictive value for DRE and PSA was 57.5% and 78.04% respectively. Negative predictive value was 73.22% and 85.22% respectively. P value was statistically significant <0.037. In the second part of study a baseline serum PSA level in age-matched 200 patients without history of prostatism was estimated.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that PSA represent an important adjunct to DRE for detection of prostate carcinoma.