- How to evaluate the prostate without digital rectal examination
- 1. PSA blood test
- 2. Male pelvic ultrasound
- When to have prostate exams
Prostate examination without digital rectal examination can be done with a blood test called PSA and pelvic ultrasound, but these may leave doubts, delaying diagnosis and increasing the risk of cancer only being discovered at a more advanced stage, with minor chances of cure.
Thus, the best tests for the diagnosis of prostate cancer still at an early stage are the PSA blood test and digital rectal examination, which provide the most concrete data for the doctor. These two exams complement each other and must therefore be ordered together.
How to evaluate the prostate without digital rectal examination
Digital rectal examination is not performed by many men because they think it will mischaracterize their masculinity. Therefore, some tests that can be done to assess the prostate without the need for rectal examination, although not the most suitable, are:
1. PSA blood test
PSA, also called Benign Prostatic Antigen, is an enzyme produced by the prostate and found in high blood concentrations in the case of prostate cancer, for example.
This test is done by collecting a blood sample that must be sent to the laboratory for analysis in order to check the blood PSA levels.
The PSA test with values higher than 4 ng / ml may indicate some alteration in the prostate, such as prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia or even a suspicion of cancer, and therefore, if the doctor finds it necessary after the PSA, he can order other tests of the prostate, helping with medical diagnosis. Here's how to understand the PSA exam result.
Only the result of the PSA can leave doubts, and therefore, this test should be done right after digital rectal examination, because this way the doctor can assess the size and consistency of the prostate.
2. Male pelvic ultrasound
Male pelvic ultrasound, through the abdominal route, is an image exam that aims to visualize any organ in real time, such as the prostate.
To perform pelvic ultrasound, it is necessary to take about 10 glasses of water so that the bladder is full enough to allow the prostate to be seen. Pelvic ultrasonography lasts an average of 10 minutes and can identify some abnormalities of the prostate, such as its enlargement, its shape and the presence of calcifications.
However, male pelvic ultrasound done through the abdomen does not detect prostate cancer, delaying the diagnosis of a disease that has a high chance of cure when detected early. Thus, this is not an exam usually indicated for early detection of prostate cancer and does not clearly replace digital rectal examination.
When to have prostate exams
The prostate exam, PSA + real touch, is indicated for all men aged 50 and over, but when there is a family history, the exam should be done from 45 years old, every year. However, when the patient has already had benign prostatic hyperplasia, the preventive exam should be done annually, regardless of age.
Watch the following video and see how these and other prostate exams are performed:
