Contrast enema before bypass surgery for small-bowel obstruction in the oncologic patient: is it necessary?

We performed a retrospective study to determine the usefulness of contrast enema examinations in patients with small-bowel obstruction and known intraabdominal malignancy.

Thirty-two patients with known or suspected intraabdominal malignancy and small-bowel obstruction who underwent both CT and subsequent contrast enema were identified. CT and contrast enema reports were reviewed for patients with tumor involvement of the colon to determine whether the contrast enema findings had provided additional information to the data that had been acquired with CT. In cases in which the contrast enema had provided additional information, the patients' medical records were reviewed to determine whether treatment had been modified as a result of the additional information.

In 14 (44%) of 32 patients, the contrast enema provided evidence of synchronous colonic disease not previously detected. The colonic involvement could be classified into two categories: implants (n = 1) and narrowing or complete obstruction (n = 13). Findings of the contrast enema resulted in a change in treatment in 10 (32%) of 32 of our patient population.

Patients with known intraabdominal malignancy who present with small-bowel obstruction may have synchronous large-bowel disease that is undetectable on standard CT scans. In these patients, the additional information provided by the contrast enema altered subsequent treatment.