The double contrast barium enema in the identification of proximal colonic adenomas and carcinomas beyond the limits of fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy.

Eight hundred and twenty patients were examined by fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy (SIG) and double contrast barium enema (DCBE) to detect colonic cancers or adenomas. Cancer or adenoma in the bowel tract proximal to the upper limit of SIG insertion was detected in 4 patients and in 12 on DCBE. The DCBE detection rate of proximal colonic lesions varied according to the hemoccult (HO) outcome. This was 1.16% for cancer and 2.03% for adenoma in HO+ patients and null for cancer and 1.23% for adenoma in HO- patients. The detection rate of proximal adenomas was higher in patients who presented adenomas on endoscopy in the distal bowel (SIG+), 2.46% as compared to 0.48% in SIG- patients, independent of the HO reports. Routine DCBE is practically useless in HO-SIG- patients and questionable in HO-SIG+ patients since improvement of the detection rate is null for cancer and moderate for adenoma. It is recommended for HO+ patients because it increases the colonic cancer detection rate (10.5% in this study).

[Multi-institution, multidisciplinary radiology and endoscopy trial of the diagnostic accuracy of the double contrast examination of the stomach surface]. / Trial policentrico multidisciplinare radiologia-endoscopia sul rendimento diagnostico dell'esame a doppio contrasto di superficie dello stomaco.

In 12 X-ray and gastroenterology departments 1570 patients, clinically suspected to have a gastric pathology, have been examined by double contrast (surface) examination of the stomach followed by gastroscopy. Diagnostic accuracy was 93% in respect of endoscopic data, assumed correct by hypothesis. On the basis of a cost and benefit evaluation, made according to the well known criteria, a wider routine use of the double contrast technique is proposed.