Routine roentgenologic examination of the colon in patients with anorectal complaints

Summary

Eight thousand four hundred twenty patients, without evidence of colon disease by history, physical examination, or proctosigmoidoscopic examination, were submitted to roentgenologic examination of the colon after barium enema. One thousand seventy-five (12.7 per cent) had abnormalities of the colon which were of clinical significance. In 241 (2.8 per cent) disease of the colon was of real clinical importance. Forty-five (0.5 per cent) had findings on x-ray examination suggestive of neoplasm, and 42 patients were operated upon. In only two of the patients undergoing surgery did the findings at operation fail to confirm the diagnosis made on x-ray examination.