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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor may recommend a barium enema exam to:
- Investigate intestinal signs and symptoms. A barium enema can help your doctor explore possible causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, a change in bowel habits, chronic diarrhea and other intestinal problems.
- Identify specific colon problems. A barium enema can help your doctor identify growths (polyps) in your colon, diverticulitis or other colon problems.
- Screen for colon cancer. If you're age 50 or older and at average risk of colon cancer — you have no colon cancer risk factors other than age — your doctor may recommend a barium enema every five years to screen for colon cancer, particularly if colonoscopy isn't an option.
Barium enema exams generally aren't done during pregnancy.
References
- Barium enema examination. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract X-ray (radiography). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=lowergi. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of cancer. American Cancer Society. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Levin B, et al. Screening and surveillance for the early detection of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps, 2008: A joint guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. Gastroenterology. 2008;134:1570.
- Colon x-ray: Defecography (DEF); barium enema; air contrast study (evacuative portography). In: Fischbach FT, ed. Manual of Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004:732.
- Schilling McCann JA, ed. Diagnostic Tests. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007.
