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World J Radiol. Aug 28, 2014; 6(8): 613-618
Published online Aug 28, 2014. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v6.i8.613
Upper gastrointestinal barium evaluation of duodenal pathology: A pictorial review
Pankaj Gupta, Uma Debi, Saroj Kant Sinha, Kaushal Kishor Prasad
Pankaj Gupta, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
Uma Debi, Division of GE Radiology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
Saroj Kant Sinha, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
Kaushal Kishor Prasad, Division of GE Histopathology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
Author contributions: Gupta P and Debi U contributed in generating the figures and writing the article; Sinha SK contributed in writing the article; and Prasad KK contributed in writing the article, revising the article critically and gave final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Kaushal Kishor Prasad, MD, PDC, CFN, MAMS, FICPath, Additional Professor, Chief, Division of GE Histopathology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh 160012, India. kaushalkp10@hotmail.com
Telephone: +91-172-2756604 Fax: +91-172-2744401
Received: February 11, 2014
Revised: April 15, 2014
Accepted: July 18, 2014
Published online: August 28, 2014
Abstract

Like other parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), duodenum is subject to a variety of lesions both congenital and acquired. However, unlike other parts of the GIT viz. esophagus, rest of the small intestine and large intestine, barium evaluation of duodenal lesions is technically more challenging and hence not frequently reported. With significant advances in computed tomography technology, a thorough evaluation including intraluminal, mural and extramural is feasible in a single non-invasive examination. Notwithstanding, barium evaluation still remains the initial and sometimes the only imaging study in several parts of the world. Hence, a thorough acquaintance with the morphology of various duodenal lesions on upper gastrointestinal barium examination is essential in guiding further evaluation. We reviewed our experience with various common and uncommon barium findings in duodenal abnormalities.

Keywords: Barium study, Duodenum, Upper gastrointestinal tract, Small bowel, Pathology

Core tip: Barium evaluation of duodenal pathologies is technically more challenging than rest of gastrointestinal tract. Barium study still forms an initial and integral part of evaluation as it provide useful clues to the diagnosis and guide further evaluation. This article should alert the radiologist to consider various common and uncommon duodenal pathologies in the correct clinical setting to guide the clinician for further investigations to ensure correct diagnosis and enable appropriate treatment.