In what situations are barium studies most helpful for the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction?
Barium studies are superior to CT in diagnosing low-grade or intermittent small bowel obstructions.
The site of obstruction is identified more reliably by a barium study than with CT.
Barium studies are superior in determining whether a stricture in a patient with Crohn’s disease is functionally obstructive.
Barium studies also are superior to CT in showing intraluminal tumors as a cause of intussusception/obstruction.
