Acid phosphatase after examination of the prostate.

We report the effect of rectal examination of the prostate and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on the serum level of tartrate labile acid phosphatase (TLAP) in 18 normal cases, 31 with benign enlargement of the prostate and 20 with carcinoma. Rectal examination had no effect on TLAP in normal patients, those with benign enlargement and those with carcinoma, either after 5 min or the following morning. TURP for both benign and malignant disease raised the TLAP transiently with a rapid return to normal. We believe that there is no justification for postponing estimation of TLAP following rectal examination.