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Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Characterizing the range of simulated prostate abnormalities palpable by digital rectal examination
Cancer epidemiology, v 34(1), pp 79-84
01 Feb 2010
PMID: 20061202
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Although the digital rectal exam (DRE) is a common method of screening for prostate cancer and other abnormalities, the limits of ability to perform this hands-on exam are unknown. Perceptible limits are a function of the size, depth, and hardness of abnormalities within a given prostate stiffness. Methods: To better understand the perceptible limits of the DRE, we conducted a psychophysical study with 18 participants using a custom-built apparatus to simulate prostate tissue and abnormalities of varying size, depth, and hardness. Utilizing a modified version of the psychophysical method of constant stimuli, we uncovered thresholds of absolute detection and variance in ability between examiners. Results: Within silicone-elastomers that mimic normal prostate tissue (21 kPa), abnormalities of 4 mm diameter (20 mm(3) volume) and greater were consistently detectable (above 75% of the time) but only at a depth of 5 mm. Abnormalities located in simulated tissue of greater stiffness (82 kPa) had to be twice that volume (5 mm diameter, 40 mm3 volume) to be detectable at the same rate. Conclusions: This study finds that the size and depth of abnormalities most influence detectability, while the relative stiffness between abnormalities and substrate also affects detectability for some size/depth combinations. While limits identified here are obtained for idealized substrates, this work is useful for informing the development of training and allowing clinicians to set expectations on performance. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Details
- Title
- Characterizing the range of simulated prostate abnormalities palpable by digital rectal examination
- Creators
- Leigh A. Baumgart - University of VirginiaGregory J. Gerling - University of VirginiaEllen J. Bass - University of Virginia
- Publication Details
- Cancer epidemiology, v 34(1), pp 79-84
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- T15LM009462 / National Library of Medicine; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Library of Medicine (NLM) Department of the Army National Library of Medicine; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Library of Medicine (NLM)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Information Science
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000276270400015
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-76449106792
- Other Identifier
- 991019292226704721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Oncology
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health