The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment.
Screening tests are usually administered to people without
current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain
diseases or conditions. The digital rectal exam can detect BPH .
This involves your doctor inserting a gloved finger into the
lower rectum. From here, your doctor can estimate the size of
your prostate, identify some (but not all) cancers, and find
anal diseases. A prostate specific antigen (PSA) test may be
done as a screening tool for prostate cancer (not for BPH).
Unfortunately, men with prostate cancer or BPH can have high PSA
levels. Other prostate conditions such as prostatitis can also
lead to high PSA levels. More tests or studies may need to be
done to determine that exact cause of the high PSA level. -
Reviewer: Adrienne Carmack, MD - Review Date: 09/2012 - - Update
Date: 00/91/2012 -