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Table 2 Characteristics of included studies

From: Clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer using digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen tests: a systematic review and meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity

 

Study design

Setting

Sample size

Intervention

Performer of intervention

Sensitivity

Specificity

Summary

DRE

PSAT

DRE

PSAT

Walsh et al. [18]

Retrospective cohort analysis

Ireland

1451

Prostate cancer detection using DRE in general practice and urology clinics

Oncologists and urologists

81%

35%

40%

DRE identifies high proportion of clinically significant PCs that requires treatment, and every abnormal DRE, even with normal PSAT requires referrals

De et al. [20]

Prospective cohort study

India

60

DRE, PSAT and ultrasound

A medical doctor, urologist, and physiologist

60%

95%

92.5%

46.6%

PSAT reported to have higher sensitivity, but lower specificity than DRE

Ojewola et al. [21]

Prospective cohort study

Nigeria

168

Prostate cancer screening using DRE and PSAT

Surgeons and an urologist

75.7%

94.6%

44.7%

20.2%

PSAT has higher sensitivity but lower specificity compared to DRE

Al-Rumaihi et al. [29]

Prospective (cross-sectional study)

Qatar

651

Prostate cancer screening using DRE and PSAT

Urologists and nephrologists

46.1%

93.9%

84.7%

8.5%

PSAT with its high sensitivity failed to detect cancer in many patients with significant disease

Abdrabo et al. [31]

Prospective cohort study

Sudan

118

Prostate cancer detection using DRE and PSA

Clinical chemist, pathologist, and urologist

63.8%

91.6%

46.9%

24%

PSAT has higher sensitivity, but lower specificity compared to DRE

Ahmed et al. [17]

Prospective Cohort study

Sudan

194

Prostate cancer detection using DRE and PSAT

Medical doctors, urologists, pathologist, and oncologists

48.1%

96.3

13.3%

25.7%

PSAT has higher sensitivity and specificity compared with DRE and detects considerable proportions of PC. Combination of DRE and PSAT escalates the probability of PC detection in LUTS patients

Alonso-Sandoica et al. [7]

Retrospective cohort study

Spain

706

PSAT and DRE

Urologists

43.2

52.0

89.2

56.0

Tumour volume does not correlate with PSAT levels

Issa et al. [19]

Retrospective cohort analysis

USA

628

DRE as a predictor of biopsy confirmed PC

Medical doctors and urologists

46%

80%

56%

72%

PSAT has higher sensitivity and specificity compared to DRE (P value = 0.0001)

Predictors: patients’ clinical and demographic characteristics

  1. DRE digital rectal examination, PSA prostate-specific antigen, PSAT prostate-specific antigen test, PC prostate cancer