Radiology in the diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal bleeding

Major breakthroughs in catheter and guidewire design and improvements in an giographic radiograph equipment currently allow interventional radiologists to diagnose massive life-threatening upper and lower gastrointesintal (GI) hemorrhage and to stop the bleeding safely and effectively using supersele ctive catheterization and microcoil embolization. For chronic or recurrent GI bleeding, when endoscopy is unrevealing or equivocal, barium studies, CT scanning, nuclear medicine studies, and angiography can help determine the cause of bleeding. A multidisciplinary approach, including the gastroenter ologist, radiologist, and surgeon is extremely helpful in managing GI bleed ing, particularly in high-risk patients presenting as diagnostic dilemmas.