A retrospective 5-year study on the accuracy of the barium enema examination performed by radiographers.
Barium enema examinations have been undertaken by radiographers at the Frenchay Hospital for more than 10 years. We have performed a retrospective study to assess the accuracy of this radiographer service by reviewing those patients who have been examined by both Barium enema and colonoscopy/flexible sigmoidoscopy to determine agreement, and reasons for disagreement. This paper does not attempt to compare the two techniques. In the 5 years between 1992 and 1996, 595 patients had both barium enema and colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. In 488 (82%) of these patients the barium enema examination was performed by a radiographer. Comparisons with endoscopy indicate that 96% of polyps >1 cm, and 97% of carcinomas were detected radiologically. We conclude that radiographer performed barium enemas with double reporting produces a very high standard of examination with detection rates for significant lesions comparable with published data.
Department of Radiology, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK.
R L
RL
Law
A J
AJ
Longstaff
N
N
Slack
D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004733:Enema / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate