The Mayo study reviewed data on the first 52 patients to undergo CE at the clinic following a barium study or CT for unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic abdominal pain. Forty patients received a barium study and CE. Of those, CE helped radiologists detect abnormalities in 22 patients (55 percent), while barium studies yielded abnormal results in only 1 patient (3 percent). Nineteen patients underwent CT examination as well as CE. Of those, CE helped radiologists detect abnormalities in 12 patients (63 percent), while CT yielded abnormal results in 4 patients (21 percent).

"We wanted to see what we were missing or not missing with standard radiology techniques," said Dr. Hara, principal author of the study. "The information we are gaining from CE will allow us to improve our use of CT for better diagnoses and determine when to pair the two technologies."

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Contact: Maureen Morley
mmorley@rsna.org
630-590-7754
Radiological Society of North America
6-Jan-2004