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.

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.