In a patient with prostatitis, what examination finding is typically noted?

In a patient with prostatitis, the examination finding that is most commonly noted is a warm and tender prostate upon digital rectal examination. This tenderness is indicative of inflammation and irritation of the prostate gland, which is a hallmark symptom of prostatitis. During the examination, the clinician palpates the prostate through the rectal wall; if the prostate is inflamed, it may feel swollen, warm, and sensitive to touch. This aligns with the characteristic signs of acute prostatitis, where the infection typically leads to these notable findings.

In contrast, a firm mass palpated on rectal examination could suggest other conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer, rather than prostatitis itself. The presence of external hemorrhoids is unrelated to the condition of the prostate and does not indicate prostatitis. A normal prostate with no tenderness would suggest the absence of inflammation or infection, which does not correspond with the symptoms of prostatitis. Thus, the warm and tender prostate represents the clinical manifestation directly associated with this condition.