Lesions missed on small-bowel follow-through: analysis and recommendations.
Forty-two surgically confirmed small-bowel lesions that were not detected by small-bowel follow-through but were demonstrated by enteroclysis were analyzed to determine why small-bowel follow-through had failed to detect them. Thirty lesions (71%) were not seen in retrospect; this was attributed to technical inadequacies. Twelve lesions (29%) were seen in retrospect. Of these, two (17%) of the lesions had been missed originally because of perceptive errors, seven (58%) because of combined perceptive and technical errors, and three (25%) because of interpretive errors. The preponderance of technical errors emphasizes the need for improvements in the small-bowel follow-through technique. More frequent fluoroscopy and more thorough compression of all filled segments, as is performed in enteroclysis, and a decreased reliance on overhead radiographs should decrease the error rate in the routine small-bowel follow-through examination.
D003287:Contrast Media; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013679:Technology, Radiologic
D003287:Contrast Media