What is the purpose of a barium swallow test?

A barium swallow test may be done to look for and diagnose problems in the pharynx and esophagus. You may need a barium swallow test if your healthcare provider thinks that you have: Cancer of the head and neck, pharynx, or esophagus. Hiatal hernia.

What is the difference between a barium swallow and an Esophagram?

The esophagram or barium swallow is a test whereby a patient is instructed to drink a barium sulfate compound that enables the radiologist to study the function and appearance of the esophagus and assess the swallowing process.

What is a swallow test used to diagnose?

A barium swallow test is a way to diagnose problems with the upper gastrointestinal tract — like difficulty swallowing, blockages in the esophagus, and stomach ulcers. During this procedure, you’ll drink a special liquid that has barium while X-rays are taken.

Does barium swallow show polyps?

In addition to cancer, results from a barium swallow may detect: Ulcers. Polyps. Hiatal hernia (when part of the stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm)

Does barium swallow show inflammation?

Your doctor may order a barium swallow to help diagnose a possible structural or functional problem with your upper GI tract. Some common problems that a barium swallow may help diagnose include: hiatal hernia. inflammation.

Will a barium swallow show a hiatal hernia?

Barium swallow and endoscopy allowed the diagnosis of hiatal hernia in 75% and 97.5%, respectively (p = 0.003). The correct classification of hiatal hernia was confirmed in 50% by barium swallow and 80% by endoscopy (p = 0.005).

How accurate is barium swallow?

syndrome, the accuracy of barium swallow is only 19% and 81% are reported as false negative. In strictures and malignancies, the level of lesion reported by barium swallow should not be relied upon in all the cases, and they should be confirmed by endoscopy.

How accurate is a swallow study?

There is good evidence that clinical swallow assessment is a reasonably accurate test for aspiration in dysphagic patients, with an overall summary sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 76%, when compared with the video fluoroscopic swallow study test.

How accurate is a barium swallow?