Is barium enema an adequate diagnostic test for the evaluation of patients with positive fecal occult blood?

Background: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of double contrast barium enema (DCBE) compared to colonoscopy among Hispanic patients with positive fecal occult blood testing (FOBT). Secondary objectives were to determine: the diagnostic accuracy according to adenoma location, size, and pathologic characteristics; and patient satisfaction with each procedure

Methods: Cross-sectional study comparing the ac curacy of DCBE and colonoscopy in detecting adenomatous polyps and/or colorectal cancer in patients with positive FOBT. DCBE and a colonoscopy were performed in all patients.

Primary duodenal signet-ring cell carcinoma presenting as gastric outlet obstruction.

Small bowel tumors occur rarely. We present an unusual case of a 68 year old man with gastric outlet obstruction secondary to a non-ampullary primary duodenal signet ring cell carcinoma. A review of the literature of small bowel malignant tumors is presented along with the case.

Malignant tumors of the small intestine.

Malignant tumors of the small bowel are unusual and account for only 1% to 5% of all gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Thirteen cases of malignant tumors of the small bowel identified at the VAMC in Puerto Rico from January 1999 to September 2001 and a review of the literature are presented. The mean age of our cases was 67 (range: 45-78).