Contrast enema diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Contrast enema was performed in a select group of 126 neonates with ambiguous diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Enema findings were compared with that on plain abdominal radiographs (AXR) and the clinical outcome. Thirty-one of the 34 patients with a discharge diagnosis of NEC were interpreted to have a positive contrast enema, and 91 of the 92 patients without a discharge diagnosis of NEC were interpreted to have a negative contrast enema. The AXR was interpreted as positive in 57 patients and as negative or indeterminate in 69. Not a single case of perforation was produced. Judicious use of contrast enema can improve specificity of diagnosis in cases with discordant clinical and plain radiographic findings.
Kao
S C
SC
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
Smith
W L
WL
Franken
E A
EA
Sato
Y
Y
Sullivan
J H
JH
McGee
J A
JA
D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D004733:Enema; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate