A retrospective 5-year study on the accuracy of the barium enema examination performed by radiographers

Barium enema examinations have been undertaken by radiographers at the Fren chay Hospital for more than 10 years. We have performed a retrospective stu dy to assess the accuracy of this radiographer service by reviewing those p atients: who have been examined by both Barium enema and colonoscopy/flexib le sigmoidoscopy to determine agreement, and reasons for disagreement. This paper does not attempt to compare the two techniques. In the 5 years between 1992 and 1996, 595 patients had both barium enema an d colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. In 488 (82%) of these patients the barium enema examination was performed by a radiographer, Comparisons with endoscopy indicate that 96% of polyps >1 cm, and 97% of carcinomas were de tected radiologically, We conclude that radiographer performed barium enema s with double reporting produces a very high standard of examination with d etection rates for significant lesions comparable with published data.