Abstract

Digital rectal examination (DRE) is routinely performed as part of a urology clinical assessment in patients with a clinical suspicion of prostate cancer. An abnormal DRE or a raised prostate specific antigen (PSA) level are part of the criteria for primary care referral to secondary care due to a suspicion of prostate cancer. The current Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the rapid adoption of virtual consultations in the form of telephone or video consultations making clinical examination difficult. In the case of prostate cancer diagnostic pathways, often clinicians now rely on PSA measurements and MRI, where radiological services are available, without the requirement for a DRE. We discuss the limited role DRE has in the modern prostate cancer diagnostic pathway due to the widespread adoption of MRI particularly in the COVID-19 era.

摘要

直肠指检 (DRE) 通常作为泌尿科临床评估的一部分对临床怀疑前列腺癌的患者进行。由于怀疑前列腺癌，DRE 异常或前列腺特异性抗原 (PSA) 水平升高是初级保健转诊至二级保健的标准的一部分。当前的冠状病毒 19 (COVID-19) 大流行导致快速采用电话或视频咨询形式的虚拟咨询，使临床检查变得困难。在前列腺癌诊断途径的情况下，临床医生现在通常依赖于 PSA 测量和 MRI，在那里可以使用放射学服务，而不需要 DRE。