Radiology, Vol 154, 657-660, Copyright © 1985 by Radiological Society of North America
Ulcerative and granulomatous colitis in children. Comparison of double- and single-contrast studies
JD Winthrop, DM Balfe, GD Shackelford, WH McAlister, JL Rosenblum and MJ Siegel
The authors reviewed 49 double-contrast and 27 single-contrast barium-
enema examinations (BE) in 71 children with suspected inflammatory bowel
disease. The diagnosis was proved in 41 patients, of whom 36 underwent
proctoscopy and 5 had advanced disease which was treated surgically within
3 to 30 days after BE; the other 30 children served as controls. BE and
proctoscopy were compared with regard to sensitivity (detection of disease)
and accuracy (categorization as ulcerative or granulomatous colitis).
Sensitivity was 93% for double- contrast and 82% for single-contrast BE.
Both detected all cases of advanced disease; in early disease,
double-contrast BE detected 91% of cases and single-contrast BE 70%.
Colitis was correctly categorized as ulcerative or granulomatous in 93%
with double-contrast BE and 86% with single-contrast BE. Specificity within
the control group was 100% with both techniques. The authors conclude that
both types of BE exhibit similar sensitivity in advanced disease, but the
double-contrast technique is more accurate in detecting early disease.
