Barium enema

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Barium enema

Barium enema

Rectal cancer, X-ray

Sigmoid colon cancer, X-ray

Lower gastrointestinal series

There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the smallest amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the x-ray.

A more serious risk is a perforated colon, which is very rare.

Colonscopy   (using a camera to directly examine the colon) is another way to look for diseases in the colon.

Review Date: 08/03/2005
Reviewed By: Jonathan Gross, M.D., Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.