Editing Rectal examination (section)

=== In [[prostate cancer screening]] of asymptomatic men aged 55 to 69 ===
* In men aged 55–69 who have been counseled on the known harms and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening, the [[United States Preventive Services Task Force|U.S. Preventive Service Task Force]] May 2018 statement states, "The use of digital rectal examination as a screening modality is not recommended because there is a lack of evidence on the benefits."<ref name=pmid29801017>{{cite journal |doi=10.1001/jama.2018.3710 |pmid=29801017 |title=Screening for Prostate Cancer |journal=JAMA |volume=319 |issue=18 |pages=1901–1913 |year=2018 |last1=Grossman |first1=David C. |last2=Curry |first2=Susan J. |last3=Owens |first3=Douglas K. |last4=Bibbins-Domingo |first4=Kirsten |last5=Caughey |first5=Aaron B. |last6=Davidson |first6=Karina W. |last7=Doubeni |first7=Chyke A. |last8=Ebell |first8=Mark |last9=Epling |first9=John W. |last10=Kemper |first10=Alex R. |last11=Krist |first11=Alex H. |last12=Kubik |first12=Martha |last13=Landefeld |first13=C. Seth |last14=Mangione |first14=Carol M. |last15=Silverstein |first15=Michael |last16=Simon |first16=Melissa A. |last17=Siu |first17=Albert L. |last18=Tseng |first18=Chien-Wen |last19=Tseng |first19=C. W. |doi-access=free }}</ref> The [[American Academy of Family Physicians]] states, "Digital Rectal Exam does not improve detection of prostate cancer and should not be performed as a part of screening."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aafp.org/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/all/prostate-cancer.html|title=Prostate Cancer - Clinical Preventive Service Recommendation|website=www.aafp.org|access-date=2019-02-18}}</ref> The [[American Urological Association]] 2013 (reviewed and validity confirmed 2018) guideline panel states, "The literature supporting the efficacy of digital rectal exam (DRE) for screening with the goal of reducing prostate cancer mortality provide limited evidence to draw conclusions."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.auanet.org/guidelines/prostate-cancer-early-detection-(2013-reviewed-for-currency-2018)|title=American Urological Association -|website=www.auanet.org|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> "The guideline panel could find no evidence to support the continued use of DRE as a first-line method of screening."<ref name=uptodate>{{cite web |url=https://www.uptodate.com/contents/screening-for-prostate-cancer |title=Screening for prostate cancer |website=UpToDate |first1=Richard M |last1=Hoffman |date=Jun 25, 2018 }}</ref> Although DRE has long been used to diagnose prostate cancer, no controlled studies have shown a reduction in the morbidity or mortality of prostate cancer when detected by DRE at any age.<ref name=uptodate/><ref>{{Cite book |author=Epstein JI |chapter=Pathology of prostatic neoplasia |title=Campbell's Urology |edition=8th |editor=Walsh PC |publisher=Saunders |location=Philadelphia |year=2002 }}</ref>
* A meta-analysis published in the ''[[Annals of Family Medicine]]'' concluded: "Given the considerable lack of evidence supporting its efficacy, we recommend against routine performance of DRE to screen for prostate cancer in the primary care setting."<ref name=pmid29531107/>