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  • Title: [Clinical value of rectal digital examination in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (author's transl)].
    Author: Weiss W, Hanak H, Huber A.
    Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr; 1977 Oct 14; 89(19):654-60. PubMed ID: 303021.
    Abstract:
    A prospective study was carried out on a series of 1500 patients of a gastro-enterological and surgical unit in order to evaluate critically the accuracy of rectal digital examination as a single tool in the early diagnosis of colorectal tumours. The patients in this study were explored independently by two investigators, first by rectal digital palpation and afterwards by means of the proctosigmoidoscope. Endoscopy confirmed the presence of 239 tumours, 96 of these being diagnosed histologically as carcinoma. Comparative analysis of the results of physical and endoscopic examination demonstrated that digital palpation provided a correct diagnosis in 58 out of 239 tumours, equivalent to an accuracy of 24.3% for tumours within the reach of the rectoscope, and 10% for all colorectal tumours. Hence, rectal examination should not be used as single diagnostic tool in screening for large bowel cancer. A multiphasic screening system, including investigations for occult blood, proctosigmoidoscopy, endoscopic polypectomy and determination of colon-embryonic-antigen levels is discussed to obtain better results in general health screening, early diagnosis and avoidance of incurable colorectal carcinomas and the early detection of recurrence.
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