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What Does This Barium Enema Report Indicate?
Question: Have had llq abd pain for about 2 mos. Had colonoscopy with no findings other than hemorrhoids but prep was unsatisfactory according to doctor. Barium enema showed "15 mm filling defect in posterior rectum." Is this likely to be cancer?
Brief Answer:
it could be but it's not certain
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
a filling defect means that barium (the radiopaque substance) could not fill the specific location in the intestine. Since the prep was unsatisfactory - as you mentioned - it could be just stool blocking the barium to spread all around the intestine. Or it could be a mass in the intestine (polyps, cancer, etc).
The best thing to do, is to repeat the colonoscopy as soon as possible but do a better preparation this time! The colonoscopic findings cannot be matched by other tests.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
it could be but it's not certain
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
a filling defect means that barium (the radiopaque substance) could not fill the specific location in the intestine. Since the prep was unsatisfactory - as you mentioned - it could be just stool blocking the barium to spread all around the intestine. Or it could be a mass in the intestine (polyps, cancer, etc).
The best thing to do, is to repeat the colonoscopy as soon as possible but do a better preparation this time! The colonoscopic findings cannot be matched by other tests.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The doctor is recommending an anoscopy. Will this achieve the same?
Brief Answer:
it will clarify the finding
Detailed Answer:
This test will definitely clarify the specific finding that we talked about but it won't check the whole bowel. Since the preparation was not sufficient, I would recommend a new colonoscopy, just to be sure.
it will clarify the finding
Detailed Answer:
This test will definitely clarify the specific finding that we talked about but it won't check the whole bowel. Since the preparation was not sufficient, I would recommend a new colonoscopy, just to be sure.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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