Pros and cons of barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres in gastrointestinal disease

Barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres are an alternative contrast agent f or radiographic studies of the gastrointestinal tract. The spheres are a pr actical, efficient, and relatively inexpensive way to diagnose a number of relatively common gastrointestinal conditions. They are most useful in the diagnosis of chronic conditions. Radiographic interpretation relies on a th orough understanding of the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal disease and how various disease states influence gastrointestinal function.