This is a chalky flavored liquid which outlines various parts of the digestive tract on an X-ray. It can be used to study the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. It can be used as an enema to study the large bowel. It is inert and is not absorbed by the body.

A radiographic exam that allows us to properly X-ray the large intestine and colon. This procedure is especially valuable as a screening tool for patients who have a family history of colon cancer. It’s also helpful in diagnosing certain diseases or conditions for patients who are experiencing unexplained weight loss, changes in their bowel habits, pain, anemia, or bleeding.

A barium enema can provide information about the large intestine or colon that will help diagnose certain diseases or conditions in those patients that are experiencing changes in their bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, pain, anemia or bleeding. A barium enema can also be a valuable screening tool for patients with a family history of colon cancer

When you arrive in the facility the technologist or RPA (radiologist physicians assistant) will ask you some questions regarding your medical history and symptoms. A single abdomen X-Ray will be taken prior to the radiologist beginning the procedure. A radiologist and a technologist will administer the barium rectally through a small catheter. The barium solution will fill the large intestine so that it can be seen on X-ray.

The enema itself will take about twenty minutes. However, you should allow extra time for preparation and for X-rays of the colon to be taken by the technologist ? about one hour in total.

Your doctor may order a barium enema to evaluate for diseases of the colon such as ulcers, benign polyps, cancer, or inflammation. It may also be performed as a screening examination for cancer in asymptomatic individuals over the age of 50. The procedure is frequently requested on patients suffering from chronic diarrhea, bloody stools, constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome.

A Radiologist, a specially trained doctor experienced in GI studies and other radiology examinations, will study the images and send a signed report with his or her interpretation to your primary care doctor or referring doctor. It will be your primary care doctor or the referring doctor who will inform you of your test results.

No. X-rays are a highly accurate, vital, and cost-effective standard of diagnosis, particularly for diseases of the chest and examining bones and joints.

Prior to your exam, your technologist will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history, and answer any questions that you may have. The procedure will begin with an X-ray of your abdomen. Next, a small catheter is inserted into the rectum and the barium solution is administered, filling the large intestine. During the procedure, you will be asked to change your position or hold your breath so certain images can be taken. The exam is considered moderately uncomfortable.

Yes. Our state-of-the-art Digital Fluoroscopy unit allows us to perform fluoroscopy studies using the highest resolution and image quality at lower doses of radiation. We can also adjust the brightness and contrast of the images on screen, thus limiting repeated exposures to the patient. If you are pregnant, (or think you might be), please inform our staff prior to your exam.

A barium enema is a radiology test to evaluate the large intestine (or "colon") for the presence of disease. A specially trained doctor known as a Radiologist performs this test in the Radiology department. The Radiologist carefully instills a contrast material (barium liquid) into the rectum, and uses a precisely measured low dose of radiation (fluoroscopy) to view the colon in real-time.

The organs of the abdomen and pelvis are similar in density, so a contrast material is needed to provide exquisite detail of the colon. Liquid barium, a dense, non-absorbable white solution, is introduced into the colon through a rectal tube. The barium coats or fills the inside of the colon and, with the use of low dose x-ray pictures, a sharp, well-defined image of the colon is produced.

With prep and x-rays, the entire exam lasts about an hour. The enema itself takes about twenty minutes.

Barium X-Ray or double contrast barium enema (DCBE) is an x-ray examination of the rectum and entire colon performed in a hospital or a clinic. Your doctor or health care professional will give you an enema that contains white dye or barium, followed by an injection of air, to allow the doctor to take x-rays of the lower intestine.

It takes at least four cups to properly coat your gastrointestinal tract, from the stomach through the small bowel, to the colon.