Small bowel follow-through

  A small bowel follow-through, also called small bowel series, is a radiologic examination of the small intestine from the distal duodenum/duodenojejunal junction to the ileocecal valve.

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An X-ray examination of the most proximal small bowel (duodenum) is typically done together with an examination of the esophagus and stomach and is called an upper GI series.

Procedure

• Person drinks radio-opaque contrast.
• X-ray images of abdominal are made.

Indications

• Suspected small bowel neoplasm.
• Hematochezia.
• Positive fecal occult blood test.

Pathology of the small bowel is uncommon. Therefore, upper GI and lower GI endoscopy is often done prior to small bowel follow-through.

See also

• Upper GI series