Barium enema
Alternative names:
lower gastrointestinal series
Normal values:
Barium should fill the colon uniformly and show normal bowel contour, patency (should be freely open), and position.
What abnormal results mean:
Abnormal findings may include cancer, diverticulitis (small pouches formed on the colon wall that can become inflamed), polyps (a tumor, usually noncancerous, that grows on the mucous membrane), inflammation of the inner lining of the intestine (ulcerative colitis), and irritable colon. An acute appendicitis or twisted loop of the bowel may also be seen.
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
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