What can a barium meal test reveal? Can a barium meal test reveal stomach cancer?

Gastric cancer is also called gastric adenocarcinoma. It is a malignant tumor originating from the epithelium and is the most common gastric malignant tumor. However, there are more than one type of gastric malignant tumor. Other gastric malignant tumors include gastric sarcoma, gastric lymphoma, and stromal tumor. So can barium meal examination detect gastric cancer? Let's make a detailed introduction below.

Barium powder principle

A barium swallow is a diagnostic test used to detect abnormalities on X-ray images of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. X-rays can only highlight bone and other opaque tissues and usually cannot show soft tissues. However, instillation of the contrast agent barium sulfate, a radiopaque salt, coats the lining of the digestive tract, allowing accurate X-ray imaging of this part of the abdomen.

The resulting images are see-through and can be viewed in real time or on a tablet.

Who can do a barium meal test?

A barium swallow may be performed by a radiologist (or radiographer), who has specialized skills in imaging studies and works as a healthcare professional to diagnose and treat illnesses.

program

The duodenum must be empty before a barium swallow test is performed so that the structures can be clearly visualized. The patient may take a laxative the night before the procedure to ensure that the small intestine is empty for the examination, which is usually performed on an empty stomach.

Patients are first asked to change into a hospital gown and remove all jewelry, dentures, glasses, metal objects, and clothing, as these items can interfere with imaging.

First, some gas bubble particles called Carbex particles are given to the patient to create gas and expand the stomach for clearer viewing. Second, a barium contrast solution is given to the patient to drink.

Some initial images are taken to see if the barium has passed through the esophagus, into the stomach and small intestine. The radiographer then takes a series of X-ray images over time as the barium contrast moves through the digestive system. This may mean that images are taken anywhere between 1 and 4 hours. Once the barium contrast has passed through the large intestine or colon, more pictures are taken. The entire test may take around 5 hours.

Gastric X-ray examination is one of the main methods to detect gastric lesions. Before the X-ray examination, the patient is asked to take an appropriate amount of barium sulfate orally so that the barium can coat the stomach wall to facilitate the observation of gastric wall lesions. Sometimes, gas-generating powder is taken at the same time to produce gas in the stomach, and gas-barium double contrast imaging is performed, which is helpful to show the structure of the stomach wall and detect early gastric cancer. Usually 5 to 6 films are taken, which need to show the front and back walls of various parts of the stomach, the greater and lesser curvatures, and the gastric angles. If there are unclear areas or suspected lesions, additional photos should be taken.
The focus of the digestive tract barium meal X-ray examination is to detect abnormalities and confirm lesions. X-ray diagnosis of gastric cancer must be based on the X-ray manifestations of the tumor itself and its surrounding changes, and all X-ray signs must be combined with clinical data and other examinations to reach a correct conclusion.