title: Contrast enema diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Franken
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McGee
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate