Rectal examination

Rectal examination
Side view of male reproductive and urinary anatomy, including the prostate, rectum and bladder, with an index finger probing the anus
ICD-9-CM89.34
MeSHD051517
MedlinePlus007069

Digital rectal examination (DRE), also known as a prostate exam (Latin: palpatio per anum (PPA), lit.'palpation through the anus'), is an internal examination of the rectum performed by a healthcare provider.

Prior to a 2018 report from the United States Preventive Services Task Force, a digital exam was a common component of annual exams for older men, as it was thought to be a reliable screening test for prostate cancer.[1][2]

  1. ^ "Recommendation: Prostate Cancer: Screening | United States Preventive Services Taskforce". www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  2. ^ "It may be time to abandon dreaded digital rectal exam, research shows". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2022-11-19. The dreaded finger exam to check for prostate cancer used to be a mainstay of check-ups for older men.