X-Ray Exams of the Digestive Tract(1)

There are several commonly performed X-ray tests that allow your doctor to examine your digestive tract from the esophagus to the rectum.

These tests utilize barium or an iodine-containing agent that allows visualization of the digestive tract and a form of X-ray machine called fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy allows part of the body to be studied in motion and recorded on a video monitor.

Fluoroscopic examinations of your GI tract may be performed in a doctor's office, a commercial X-ray machine, or a hospital. These tests are usually called either an "upper GI" or a barium or contrast enema or a "lower GI", depending on the organs to be studied.

Today, we will mainly introduce Upper GI tests.

Upper GI tests use X-rays to examine the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). You could see some articles about the digestive system to learn more about these organs.

For these tests, a person is required to drink barium. As the barium passes through the digestive tract, it fills and coats the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine making them more visible with X-ray. Then a fluoroscope machine is held over the part of the body being examined and transmits continuous images to a video monitor.