title: Colorectal cancer: the case for barium enema.
abstract: Both colonoscopy and barium enema are important techniques for examining the colon for polyps and cancer. They are approximately equally sensitive in detecting polypoid lesions of 7 to 10 mm or larger. A major limitation of colonoscopy is that the cecum cannot be visualized in 10 to 36% of cases. The comparable accuracy for detecting significant lesions, greater safety, and greater cost-effectiveness of barium enema favor its use in most patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: MacCarty
mesh_terms: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004733:Enema / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate