title: Wessex regional radiology audit: barium enema in colo-rectal carcinoma.
abstract: In the first Wessex regional radiology audit, a retrospective comparison of pathology and radiology reports was made to determine rates of demonstration and reporting of colo-rectal carcinoma on barium enema. Barium enema films were analysed by peer review in cases of discrepancy. The standard set was 100% demonstration and 100% diagnosis of colo-rectal carcinoma on a barium enema undertaken in the 12 months preceding histological diagnosis. The carcinoma demonstration rate was 97% and carcinoma reporting rate 85%. Of 1351 patients with carcinoma, 557 had a barium enema in the preceding 12 months. Four hundred and seventy-one enema reports satisfactorily recorded the malignant lesion (85%). The reasons for non-reporting of a carcinoma were failure to demonstrate the lesion (18 cases, 3%), failure to perceive a demonstrated lesion (23 cases, 4%) and failure to analyse a perceived lesion (45 cases, 8%). Any improvement in demonstration cannot be estimated, but 94% of carcinomas should be reported when improved reporting techniques are instituted and the audit loop is closed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fairhurst
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Frost
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004733:Enema; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate