Nt. Brewster et al., DOUBLE-CONTRAST BARIUM ENEMA AND FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY FOR ROUTINE COLONIC INVESTIGATION, British Journal of Surgery, 81(3), 1994, pp. 445-447
Over a 5-year period, all patients referred for barium enema examinati
on had a double-contrast barium enema and flexible sigmoidoscopy perfo
rmed on the same day. A total of 462 joint examinations were performed
. Abnormalities were found in 193 patients by the use of barium enema,
164 patients by using sigmoidoscopy and 294 by the use of both method
s of investigation. Sigmoidoscopy was superior to barium enema in the
detection of polyps and inflammatory bowel disease but barium enema wa
s more sensitive for diverticular disease. The presenting symptoms had
no predictive value in distinguishing carcinoma, polyps and diverticu
lar disease. Diverticular disease did not reduce the sensitivity of ba
rium enema examination to polyps in the sigmoid colon. Fibreoptic sigm
oidoscopy immediately before barium enema was well tolerated by patien
ts. The investigations were complementary in the diagnosis of colonic
polyps, inflammatory bowel disease and diverticular disease.