Radiographic examination of the small bowel: survey of practice patterns in the United States.

Purpose: To obtain understanding of the current practice patterns of academic and private radiology groups in the United States in radiographic examination of the small bowel.

Materials And Methods: The survey consisted of questions about small-bowel follow-through (SBFT) examinations, including frequency of overhead radiographs, use of fluoroscopic spot images, personnel performing fluoroscopy, practice settings, and degree of specialization. By using a standard sampling technique, the country was divided into nine regions, and one state from each region was randomly selected.

Evaluation of patients with jejunostomy tubes: imaging findings.

Purpose: To determine the frequency and nature of abnormalities observed on radiographs after placement of jejunostomy (J) tubes for enteral nutrition.

Materials And Methods: Radiology database review revealed that 280 studies of the J tube or of the small bowel with water-soluble contrast material and/or barium sulfate were performed in patients during 10 years. Review of the radiologic reports revealed abnormalities related to the placement of tubes in 105 (38%) cases.

Value of barium studies for predicting primary versus secondary non-Hodgkin's gastrointestinal lymphoma.

Background: To determine the predictive value of a single lesion versus multifocal disease for differentiating primary and secondary gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma on barium studies.

Methods: Our study group consisted of 90 cases of non-Hodgkin's GI lymphoma from the radiologic archives of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in which barium studies had been performed. Each of those studies was reviewed jointly by two of the authors to determine in a blinded fashion whether the patients had a single lesion or multifocal disease (defined as two or more discrete lesions).

Diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms at double-contrast barium enema examination.

The double-contrast barium enema examination has been recognized as an option for colorectal cancer screening in Americans with average risk who are greater than 50 years of age. The purpose of this article is to review the principles for diagnosing colorectal neoplasms on double-contrast images and the spectrum of findings associated with these lesions. Colonic polyps can be sessile or pedunculated; their appearance depends on whether they are located on the dependent or nondependent wall of the bowel.

Double-contrast barium enema examination technique.

This review article presents the principles for performing a safe, comfortable, and accurate double-contrast barium enema examination. The procedure is a flexible examination in which the fluoroscopist interacts with the patient, the controls of the fluoroscope, and the image on the television monitor. During a double-contrast examination, images of the colon are created by manipulating the patient, the barium pool, and the amount of air insufflated into the rectum.

Ileal endometriosis: radiographic findings in five cases.

Purpose: To determine the radiographic findings in five patients with ileal endometriosis.

Materials And Methods: A search of radiology files revealed five patients with surgically proved endometriotic implants in the ileum at enteroclysis (three patients), at small-bowel follow-through (one patient), and at double-contrast barium enema study (one patient). The radiographic findings were reviewed retrospectively.

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: radiographic findings in six patients.

Purpose: To determine the radiographic findings of low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma on double-contrast upper gastrointestinal studies.

Materials And Methods: Pathology records, double-contrast upper gastrointestinal studies, and medical records of six patients with gastric MALT lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: The most common clinical findings at presentation included epigastric pain (n = 6), dyspepsia (n = 4), and nausea and vomiting (n = 4).

Carcinoma of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction: sensitivity of radiographic diagnosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity of barium studies in revealing carcinoma of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (n = 25) and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (n = 14) or esophagogastric junction (n = 11) in which double-contrast (n = 46) or single-contrast (n = 4) barium studies had been done. The original radiology reports were reviewed to determine whether the lesions had been seen on barium studies and whether cancer had been diagnosed.

Ectopic pancreas complicated by pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation mimicking jejunal diverticulitis.

Clinical symptoms are rarely produced by ectopic pancreas arising in the jejunum. We report a case of a patient with left lower quadrant abdominal pain due to jejunal ectopic pancreas complicated by acute pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation.

Colon cancer: morphology detected with barium enema examination versus histopathologic stage.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between the morphology of colon carcinomas detected with barium enema examination and the cancer stage.

Materials And Methods: Clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, surgical, and histopathologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 152 patients with colon cancer detected with barium enema examination during a 2-year period.

Results: Eighty-six patients (57%) had lesions in the rectum and sigmoid and descending colon, and 66 (43%) patients had lesions more proximally in the colon.

Helicobacter pylori gastritis: radiographic findings.

Purpose: To determine whether there are useful radiographic criteria for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori.

Materials And Methods: Radiographs from double-contrast upper gastrointestinal examinations of 88 patients with H pylori and 41 control subjects were blindly reviewed. The results were analyzed by means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Guide to imaging of the small bowel.

The small intestine is a difficult organ to image. Its considerable length, the changing location of its many overlapping coils, and the often adverse effect of luminal fluids on the coating ability of barium necessitate the use of special techniques employing special barium formulations.

Giant ulcers of the esophagus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus: clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings.

Purpose: To determine the causes of giant esophageal ulcers in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and whether clinical or radiographic criteria can be used to differentiate the infections that cause these ulcers.

Materials And Methods: From January 1990 through December 1993, giant esophageal ulcers ( > or = 1 cm in diameter) were found in 21 HIV-positive patients (19 men and two women 23-66 years of age; mean, 39 years). The radiographic findings were reviewed and correlated with clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic findings.

Enteroclysis in the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: The diagnostic yield of enteroclysis was retrospectively evaluated for patients with obscure bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.

Materials And Methods: A total of 128 patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were referred to our department for enteroclysis between 1988 and 1993. The original radiologic reports were reviewed to determine the radiographic findings in these patients.

Diagnosis of gastric carcinoma: sensitivity of double-contrast barium studies.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine if the double-contrast upper gastrointestinal examination is a sensitive technique for diagnosing gastric carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the radiographs of 80 patients with pathologically proved gastric carcinoma who had double-contrast barium studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract between 1985 and 1992. The original radiologic reports were also reviewed to determine if the lesions had been detected on radiographic studies and if a diagnosis of gastric carcinoma had been made or suspected on the basis of the results.

Polypoid lesions at the anorectal junction: barium enema findings.

Although the anorectal junction is easily accessible, this area may be difficult to evaluate both radiologically and endoscopically because it is relatively collapsed. This pictorial essay illustrates the barium enema radiographic findings and reviews the radiologic and endoscopic pitfalls in the diagnosis of lesions of the anorectal junction.

Gastrocolic fistulas: the increasing role of aspirin.

Eight patients had gastrocolic fistulas depicted on barium studies at the authors' hospital during a 10-year period between 1982 and 1992. Seven of those patients (88%) had benign disease, including aspirin-induced gastric ulcers of the greater curvature (n = 4), granulomatous colitis (n = 1), tuberculosis (n = 1), and a penetrating anastomotic ulcer after partial gastrectomy (n = 1). The remaining patient had a malignant gastrocolic fistula caused by carcinoma of the transverse colon.