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Digital rectal exam in prostate cancer screening: time to rethink its role?
20 novembre 2025
By Carolina Lima | Published on November 20, 2025 | 3 min readThe digital rectal exam (DRE) has historically been a key tool in the early detection of prostate cancer (PCa). Before the widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, DRE was the primary method for identifying potentially aggressive tumors. PSA transformed early detection by identifying cancers even in asymptomatic men, l
By Carolina Lima | Published on November 20, 2025 | 3 min read
The digital rectal exam (DRE) has historically been a key tool in the early detection of prostate cancer (PCa). Before the widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, DRE was the primary method for identifying potentially aggressive tumors. PSA transformed early detection by identifying cancers even in asymptomatic men, leading to a shift in screening practices. As PSA became standard, the value of DRE in routine screening has been increasingly questioned.
The digital rectal exam (DRE) has historically been a key tool in the early detection of prostate cancer (PCa). Before the widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, DRE was the primary method for identifying potentially aggressive tumors. PSA transformed early detection by identifying cancers even in asymptomatic men, leading to a shift in screening practices. As PSA became standard, the value of DRE in routine screening has been increasingly questioned.
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Scientific reference
Bouras S. « Digital rectal exam in prostate cancer screening: a critical review of the ERSPC Rotterdam study ». African Journal of Urology. 2024;30:51.
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