THE FUTURE OF BARIUM RADIOLOGY

Barium radiology of the gastrointestinal tract has had a long history but its survival into the next century will be a challenge. The number s of barium studies performed has declined in recent decades due to se veral factors; also, health care reforms in the United States will fur ther impact on the use of barium examinations. The future status of th ese radiological procedures will change depending on these factors and the organ system being examined; an increased emphasis on functional evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract will also have an effect on t he evolving role of barium radiology. We provide a brief historical re view of the evolution of barium radiology in the twentieth century, di scuss the present and changing status of the various gastrointestinal examinations, and offer our thoughts concerning the potential future o f this specialty.