[Significance of digital examination in early diagnosis of prostate carcinoma (author's transl)].

Digital palpation of the prostate is not suitable for positive differentation between benign and malignant lesions of the prostate. Whenever a conspicuous finding is observed during a physical examination of the prostate a fine needle aspiration cytology is mandatory for eluidation of the disease. This procedure is simple and inexpensive, has a low rate of complications and high diagnostic validity.