Roentgenologic examination of the rectum and colon

In our experience the search for early tumors of the colon has been greatly helped by employment of routine barium enema studies carried out with adequate spot film and high kilovoltage technic followed by a thorough air contrast study. With proper technic polyps of only several millimeters in diameter may be detected. If the initial barium enema and air contrast studies fail to reveal a source of bleeding which has been proved to be coming from above the endoscopically accessible area, the air study should be repeated at least several times. If this fails to reveal the bleeding point, the patient should have follow-up studies at intervals of three to six months until one can be reasonably sure that carcinoma does not exist. Early detection of cancer or other source of colonic bleeding is costly and somewhat exhausting to the patient. However, with the high percentage of potential cure attendant upon detection and removal of a malignant polyp, the cost is entirely justified.