A barium meal, also known as an upper gastrointestinal series is a procedure in which radiographs of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum are taken after barium sulfate is ingested by a patient. X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of Electromagnetic radiation. The esophagus or oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences) sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ in In Human anatomy, the stomach is a J-shaped hollow muscular organ of the Gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of Digestion, following In Anatomy of the Digestive system, the duodenum is a hollow jointed tube about 25-30 cm (10-12 in long connecting the Stomach to the Jejunum Barium sulfate is a white crystalline solid with the chemical formula BaSO4 Barium meals are useful in the diagnosis of structural and motility abnormalities of the foregut. Motility is a biological term which refers to the ability to move spontaneously and actively consuming energy in the process The foregut is the anterior part of the Alimentary canal, from the Mouth to the Duodenum at the entrance of the Bile duct.

The gastrointestinal tract, like other soft-tissue structures, does not show clearly enough for diagnostic purposes on plain radiographs. Barium salts are radioopaque: they show clearly on a radiograph. Radiopacity refers to the relative inability of electromagnetism to pass through a particular material particularly X-rays. If barium is swallowed before radiographs are taken, the barium within the esophagus, stomach or duodenum shows the shape of the lumina of these organs.

Liquid suspensions of barium sulfate are non-toxic, apart from a small risk of producing a disturbance in bowel function for 48 hours after ingestion. They usually have a chalky taste that can be disguised by adding flavours. ^[1]

A barium meal usually takes less than an hour. The patient ingests gas pellets and citric acid to expand the stomach. Barium sulfate is then ingested. The patient may move or roll over to coat the stomach and esophagus in barium. A needle may also be used to relax the muscle between the stomach and the duodenum. Following these preparations, an x-ray is taken.

There are two varieties of barium meal: single and double contrast meals. A single contrast meal uses only barium, a radioopaque (or positive) contrast medium, to image the upper gastrointestinal tract. A double contrast meal uses barium as well as a radiolucent (or negative) contrast medium such as air, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide. Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single The double contrast meal is more useful as a diagnostic test, demonstrating mucosal details and allowing the detection of small mucosal lesions such as diverticula or polyps. A diverticulum (plural diverticula) is medical term for an outpouching of a hollow (or a fluid filled structure in the body A polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue ( Tumor) projecting from a Mucous membrane.

The diagnostic usage of barium studies has declined in recent years with the increasing use of the practice of endoscopy, which allows direct visual inspection of suspicious areas within the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Endoscopy means looking inside and typically refers to looking inside the body for medical reasons using an instrument called an endoscope.

See also

• Barium enema
• Barium swallow
• Barium follow-through
• Canary trap

References

1. ^ Upper G.I./Barium Swallow