What are some common reasons for a barium enema?
Your doctor may order a barium enema to evaluate for diseases of the colon such as ulcers, benign polyps, cancer, or inflammation. It may also be performed as a screening examination for cancer in asymptomatic individuals over the age of 50. The procedure is frequently requested on patients suffering from chronic diarrhea, bloody stools, constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome. Other indications include unexplained weight loss, a change in bowel habits, or to detect a source of suspected blood loss. These images of the bowel and colon are also used to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease, a group of disorders that include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
