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An upper gastrointestinal series, also called a barium swallow, barium study, or barium meal, is a series of radiographs used to examine the gastrointestinal tract for abnormalities. A contrast medium , usually a radiocontrast agent such as barium sulfate mixed with water, is ingested or instilled into the gastrointestinal tract, and X-rays are ...
However, when present, symptoms may include difficulty swallowing , pain while swallowing (odynophagia), cough or globus sensation. [1] Whether esophageal inlet patches may cause other symptoms, such as chronic cough or laryngitis, is unclear. [1] Occasionally, esophageal inlet patches may be seen during a barium esophagram. [3]
Esophagitis can be diagnosed by upper endoscopy, biopsy, upper GI series (or barium swallow), and laboratory tests. [4] An upper endoscopy is a procedure to look at the esophagus by using an endoscope. While looking at the esophagus, the doctor is able to take a small biopsy. The biopsy can be used to confirm inflammation of the esophagus.
Barium sulfate suspensions are provided by a radiologist or radiographer in advance of, or during a CT scan or fluoroscopic study to allow for better visualization of the gastrointestinal tract, such as in upper or lower gastrointestinal series. In upper gastrointestinal series, the patient is instructed to take nothing by mouth, which means to ...
a barium swallow may be performed before endoscopy to help identify abnormalities that might increase the risk of perforation at the time of endoscopy. If achalasia suspected an upper endoscopy is required to exclude a malignancy as a cause of the findings on barium swallow. Manometry is performed next to confirm.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding then is reported, and is very commonly represented in elderly patients. [4] Black or bloody stools and hematemesis account for over three quarters of the case presentations. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and unstable vital signs are common.
A Killian–Jamieson diverticulum is an outpouching of the esophagus just below the upper esophageal sphincter. [1] The physicians that first discovered the diverticulum were Gustav Killian and James Jamieson. Diverticula are seldom larger than 1.5 cm, and are less frequent than the similar Zenker's diverticula.
A hiatal hernia or hiatus hernia [2] is a type of hernia in which abdominal organs (typically the stomach) slip through the diaphragm into the middle compartment of the chest. [1] [3] This may result in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) with symptoms such as a taste of acid in the back of the mouth or heartburn.