A negative double-contrast barium meal — Qualified reassurance

Four hundred and forty-one consecutive patients referred for endoscopy after a negative double-contrast barium meal were studied to determine the reliability of good quality radiology in excluding significant upper gastrointestinal pathology. Endoscopic abnormalities were detected in 23 patients (5.2%), nine of which were reporting errors. Duodenal ulcer was the commonest lesion missed radiologically, 50% of these patients either having a history of overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding, a family history or impressive symptomatic relief with H 2-receptor antagonists. The three patients with radiologically undetected gastric cancer presented with classical symptoms; the radiological demonstration of gastric mucosal atrophy in this clinical context should alert the referring clinician to initiate urgent endoscopy.