[Early diagnosis of cancer of the prostate by rectal palpation (author's transl)].

Transrectal biopsy was performed on 173 unselected patients, aged 45-85 years, with disease of the prostate, who had previously had a screening examination. The findings on palpation by the referring doctor and the authors' own assessment were compared with the histological findings. Of 37 histologically confirmed cases of carcinoma of the prostate 16 (44%) had been correctly diagnosed by the referring doctor and 28 (76%) after examination at hospital. On the other hand, of 136 histologically negative cases the referring doctor's diagnosis had been correct in 112 (81%) instances and at hospital 94 (69%).