Health Management for Older Adults III - Screening the Elderly for Colorectal Cancer -- Digital Rectal Examination

< i > Screening the Elderly for Colorectal Cancer -- Digital Rectal Examination

The average examiner's finger is 7 to 8 cm in length, while the rectal mucosa alone extends approximately 10 cm in the average adult.

The examination is certainly useful as part of the periodic examination for its ability to detect prostate and pelvic floor abnormalities as well as abnormalities in the anorectal junction that may be missed by endoscopy or enema.