II. Indications
- Colon Cancer Screening (low efficacy)
- Prostate Cancer Screening (low efficacy)
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (assess size of Prostate)
- Cauda Equina Syndrome (low efficacy)
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding (or occult acute blood loss)
III. Technique: Finger Insertion
- Lubricate gloved index finger
- Patient bears down as if straining at stool
- Gently insert finger after sphincter relaxes
IV. Technique: Evaluation
- Assessment of 360 degree sweep of Rectum
- Anal sphincter tone
- Tenderness
- Nodularity or masses
- Assessment of anterior Prostate surface (males)
- Evaluate lateral lobes of Prostate
- Normal Prostate is Rubbery, non-tender
- Assess for nodularity (Prostate Cancer)
- Evaluate median sulcus
- Absent sulcus suggests Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
- Evaluate lateral lobes of Prostate
- Assessment of Rectal Tone (evaluation of S2-S4 function, e.g. cauda equina evaluation)
- Resting tone applies pressure to inserted finger without patient bearing down
- Patient tries to resist Defecation
- Puborectalis Muscle contracts and applies pressure to the anterior inserted finger
- External anal sphincter contracts and applies pressure circumferentially around the inserted finger
- Patient bears down
- Pressure on inserted finger increases
- Overall poor efficacy of Rectal Tone to diagnose S2-S4 neurologic deficit
V. Technique: Completing Examination
- Observe for grossly bloody stool
- Consider test for Stool Occult Blood
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Concepts | Diagnostic Procedure (T060) |
| SnomedCT | 274806008, 89563001, 410006001, 410007005 |
| Italian | Esame obiettivo del retto |
| Japanese | 直腸検査, ﾁｮｸﾁｮｳｹﾝｻ |
| English | examination of rectum (physical finding), examination of rectum, rectal exam, rectal examination, examinations rectal, digital rectal examination, Rectal examination, Rectum--Examination, Rectal examination, NOS, RE - Rectal examination, Rectal examination (procedure) |
| Czech | Vyšetření konečníku |
| Hungarian | Rektális vizsgálat |
| Spanish | examen digital del recto, palpación digital del recto, Examen rectal, examen rectal (procedimiento), examen rectal |
| Portuguese | Exame rectal |
| Dutch | rectumonderzoek |
| French | Examen du rectum |
| German | Rektaluntersuchung |
Ontology: Digital Rectal Examination (C1384593)
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | An examination in which a doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities. |
| Definition (NCI) | An examination that checks for abnormalities of organs or other structures in the pelvis and lower abdomen. During a digital rectal exam, a health professional inserts a lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the rectum and may use the other hand to press on the lower abdomen or pelvic area. |
| Definition (MSH) | A physical examination in which the qualified health care worker inserts a lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the RECTUM and may use the other hand to press on the lower ABDOMEN or pelvic area to palpate for abnormalities in the lower rectum, and nearby organs or tissues. The method is commonly used to check the lower rectum, the PROSTATE gland in men, and the UTERUS and OVARIES in women. |
| Concepts | Diagnostic Procedure (T060) |
| MSH | D051517 |
| ICD9 | 89.34 |
| SnomedCT | 89563001, 274806008, 410006001 |
| LNC | LA15400-7 |
| Swedish | Digital rektal undersökning |
| English | DRE - Digital rectal examinatn, Digital rectal exam, Digital Rectal Examination, digital rectal examination, Digital palpation of rectum, Digital examination of rectum, DRE - Digital rectal examination, Digital examination of rectum (procedure), DRE, Digital Rectal Examinations, Examination, Digital Rectal, Examinations, Digital Rectal, Palpation, Rectal, Palpations, Rectal, Rectal Examination, Digital, Rectal Examinations, Digital, Rectal Palpations, Rectal Palpation |
| Finnish | Tunnustelu peräsuolen kautta |
| Italian | Palpazione rettale, Esame rettale digitale |
| Russian | PRIAMOI KISHKI OBSLEDOVANIE PAL'TSEVOE, ПРЯМОЙ КИШКИ ОБСЛЕДОВАНИЕ ПАЛЬЦЕВОЕ |
| Japanese | 直腸内触診, 直腸内診, 直腸内診法, 直腸指診, 直腸診 |
| French | EDR (Examen Digital Rectal), Examen digital rectal, Toucher rectal |
| Polish | Badanie palcem przez odbytnicę, Badanie palpacyjne przez odbytnicę |
| Czech | palpační vyšetření konečníku, rektální vyšetřování palpační, palpační rektální vyšetření |
| Norwegian | Rektal palpasjon, Digital rektal undersøkelse |
| Spanish | tacto rectal (procedimiento), tacto rectal, Tacto Rectal |
| Portuguese | Exame Retal Digital |
| German | Digital-rektale Untersuchung, Rektale Palpation |
