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Barium Enema

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Barium Enema

  • Efficacy
  1. Background
    1. Initially thought to identify 85-95% of Colon Cancer
    2. Recent evaluations suggest much lower sensitivity
  2. Test Sensitivity
    1. Adenoma <0.5 cm diameter: 32%
    2. Adenoma 0.6 to 1 cm diameter: 53%
    3. Adenoma >1 cm diameter: 48%
  3. Test Specificity: 48%
  4. References
    1. Winawer (2000) N Engl J Med 342:1766-72 [PubMed]
  • Advantages
  1. Costs 50% of Colonoscopy
  • Adverse Effects
  1. Complication Rate 1:5000
  • Disadvantages
  1. Poorly visualizes rectal area
  2. Best done in combination endoscopy
    1. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
    2. Proctoscopy