The small bowel enema - a general survey

General thoughts about small bowel radiology are followed by a description of the technique of the small bowel enema with methyl cellulose for achieving double contrast. Parameters for the normal finding are stated. For the following situations, a small bowel enema is recommended for clinical application: clarification of an ileus of the small bowel, special aspects of inflammatory diseases of the small bowel, malabsorption, clarification of a carcinomatosis or a radiation damage, clarification of occult intestinal blood loss, and in cases of irresolute conventional gastrointestinal passage. Small bowel enema is also suitable for use in diagnosing diseases of severely handicapped patients. (orig.)