Barium enema

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Barium enema

Barium enema

Rectal cancer, X-ray

Sigmoid colon cancer, X-ray

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When barium enters your colon, you may feel like you need to have a bowel movement. You may also have a feeling of fullness, moderate to severe cramping, and general discomfort. Try to take long, deep breaths during the procedure. This may help you relax.

The barium enema is used to detect colon cancer, although it is used much less often than in the past.

It may also be used to diagnose and evaluate the extent of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other bowel disease.

Review Date: 12/14/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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