How is barium contrast used to view images of the colon?
The organs of the abdomen and pelvis are similar in density, so a contrast material is needed to provide exquisite detail of the colon. Liquid barium, a dense, non-absorbable white solution, is introduced into the colon through a rectal tube. The barium coats or fills the inside of the colon and, with the use of low dose x-ray pictures, a sharp, well-defined image of the colon is produced.
