title: Detection of colonic polyps on single-contrast barium enema study: emphasis on the elderly.
abstract: A systems approach was employed to improve results of the single-contrast barium enema examination for detection of colonic polyps. Improvements were made in each of the following areas: radiographic-fluoroscopic equipment, fluoroscopic-television images, screen-film combinations, barium suspensions, examination techniques, imaging sequences, and quality controls. Radiologic-endoscopic correlation was undertaken for 137 colonic polyps seen endoscopically in 91 patients. The average age of the patients was 69 years. The sensitivity of the single-contrast examination for detection of all polyps was 80%. Polyps 5-9 mm in size were detected with 66% sensitivity, while 94% of polyps 10 mm or larger were detected. The results indicate that the sensitivity of a suitably performed single-contrast barium enema examination may approach that of the double-contrast study for the detection of colonic polyps, even in an elderly and infirm patient population.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate