Small bowel barium examination in children. Diagnostic accuracy and clinical value as evaluated from 331 enteroclysis and follow-through examinations.
The indications for small bowel barium examination, the radiologic findings, and the clinical outcome were compared retrospectively in 331 children, aged 0 to 15 years. Sixty examinations (18%) were pathologic, which is in accordance with adult materials. The most common indications for referral were inflammatory bowel disease (48%) and small bowel obstruction (25%). The examinations were positive in 19 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. Indications for referring patients with non-specific symptoms led to a low frequency of pathologic findings. A therapeutic or diagnostic procedure was performed in 38 of the 60 pathologic radiologic examinations (63%). In 18 patients (30%) a pathologic finding caused no change in therapy. No consistent difference in sensitivity, specificity or predictive values of a positive or negative result was found concerning enteroclysis or elective follow-through examination. For screening purposes of the small bowel in children follow-through examinations give adequate radiologic information and should be used instead of enteroclysis.
Bååth
L
L
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Malmö Allmänna Sjukhus, University of Lund, Sweden.
Ekberg
O
O
Borulf
S
S
Lindhagen
T
T
Olsson
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001466:Barium Sulfate