title: Double contrast barium enema sensitivity: a comparison of studies by radiographers and radiologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A retrospective study of histologically proven cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) was performed to assess whether the sensitivity of the radiographer-performed double contrast barium enema (DCBE) differed from that of the radiologist-performed study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologically proven cases of CRC were reviewed over a 3-year period to ascertain whether: the diagnosis had been made by DCBE in the 3 years before histological diagnosis; the lesion had been correctly diagnosed; the examination had been performed by a radiologist or radiographer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 3-year period there were 478 cases with histologically proven CRC. Of these, 239 (50%) had undergone DCBE as the initial radiological investigation of the colon. Sixty-four examinations had been performed by radiographers. A correct diagnosis was made in 58 cases (90.6%), the report was equivocal in one case (1.6%), there were four false-negatives (6.25%), and one case was abandoned (1.6%). One hundred and seventy-five examinations were performed by radiologists. A correct diagnosis was made in 157 cases (89.7%), the report was equivocal in one case (0.6%), there were 16 false-negatives (9.1%), and one case was abandoned (0.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A sensitivity of 90.6% for radiographer-performed studies compared favourably with 89.7% for radiologist-performed studies and supports the practice of radiographers undertaking barium enemas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Culpan
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nutman
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004733:Enema; D004739:England; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards; D011871:Radiology / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate