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Barium Enema
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Healthwise
What To Think About
- If your doctor thinks you have an abdominal mass, other tests may be needed before or after a barium enema. These include abdominal X-rays, ultrasound studies, and computed tomography (CT) scans.
- If an upper gastrointestinal series is planned, it should be performed after the barium enema. The barium swallowed during an upper GI series may take several days to pass through the intestine and thus can interfere with the results of a barium enema.
- A barium enema may be used to screen for colon cancer. Other tests are used more often to screen for colon cancer. This test is less expensive and has fewer risks than colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. And it does not require sedation. But small colon polyps are more likely to be missed during a barium enema. For more information, see the topics Stool Tests for Colorectal Cancer, Colonoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy, and Virtual Colonoscopy.
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Last Updated:
April 25, 2011- Medical Review:
- Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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