A series of x-rays of the lower gastrointestinal tract
A barium enema is a series of x-rays of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
The patient lies on an x-ray table and a liquid that contains barium (a silver-white metallic compound) is put into the rectum.
The barium flows through the colon and coats the lower gastrointestinal tract.
X-rays are taken to look for abnormal areas.
Any abnormal areas show up as black against the white liquid.
This procedure is also known as a lower gastrointestinal (GI) series.
