Usage
This examination may be used:
- for the diagnosis of rectal tumors and other forms of cancer;
- for the diagnosis of prostatic disorders, notably tumors and benign prostatic hyperplasia;
- for the diagnosis of appendicitis or other examples of an acute abdomen (i.e. acute abdominal symptoms indicating a serious underlying disease);
- for the estimation of the tonicity of the anal sphincter, which may be useful in case of fecal incontinence or neurologic diseases, including traumatic spinal cord injuries;
- in females, for gynecological palpations of internal organs;
- for examination of the hardness and color of the feces (i.e. in cases of constipation, and fecal impaction);
- prior to a colonoscopy or proctoscopy;
- to evaluate hemorrhoids;
- In newborns to exclude imperforate anus.
The DRE is frequently combined with an FOBT (fecal occult blood test), which may be useful for diagnosing the etiology of an anemia and/or confirming a gastrointestinal bleed.
The DRE is inadequate as a screening tool for colorectal cancer because it examines less than 10% of the colorectal mucosa; sigmoidoscopy is preferred. However, it is an important part of a general examination, as many tumors or other diseases are made manifest in the distal part of the rectum.
Sometimes proctoscopy may also be part of a rectal examination.
Read more about this topic: Rectal Examination
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