Overview

• The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Urologie (DGU) has officially removed routine digital rectal exams from its S3 prostate cancer screening guidelines.
• The updated guidelines emphasize PSA blood tests and MRI as more accurate and patient-friendly alternatives for early prostate cancer detection.
• A 2023 study by the German Cancer Research Center highlighted the high false-positive and false-negative rates of rectal exams, prompting the shift.
• Currently, PSA testing and prostate MRI are self-paid services under Germany's insurance system, requiring policy updates for broader accessibility.
• Digital rectal exams remain an option when clinical suspicion of prostate cancer arises, but are no longer a standard screening method.