In many instances the digital rectal examination may be followed by proctoscopy or colonoscopy. An ultrasound probe may be placed into the rectum to assess the gynecological structures in females and the prostate in the male before performing a prostatic biopsy.
A digital rectal examination also allows detection of fresh or altered blood in the rectum in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding or chronic anemia.
In the clinic
Carcinoma of the colon and rectum