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Gastrointestinal radiology: current indications and referral patterns
D M Einstein1, J M Lieberman, D M Paushter
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
Abdominal Imaging
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Gastrointestinal radiology referrals are shifting. While traditional uses persist, doctors increasingly order these exams for swallowing disorders and small bowel conditions, areas less suited for endoscopy. This impacts radiology training curriculum planning.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Gastrointestinal radiology examinations are crucial diagnostic tools.
- Referral patterns and indications for these procedures can evolve over time.
- Understanding current trends is vital for medical education and practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively analyze the current indications and referral patterns for gastrointestinal radiology examinations.
- To identify the primary medical specialties referring patients for these studies.
- To document the specific clinical reasons driving the use of upper GI, small bowel, and barium enema procedures.
Main Methods:
- Prospective analysis of 1000 consecutive patients undergoing gastrointestinal radiology examinations.
- Categorization of referrals by referring medical specialty.
- Documentation and analysis of indications for upper GI series, small bowel series, combined studies, and barium enemas.
Main Results:
- General internal medicine (38%), gastroenterology (21%), and surgery (17%) were the largest referring specialties.
- Key indications included dysphagia/swallowing disorders (32%) for upper GI, inflammatory bowel disease (37%) for small bowel series, and neoplasm detection (40%) for barium enemas.
- Gastroenterology referrals focused on small bowel evaluations, often for conditions not well-assessed by endoscopy.
Conclusions:
- Traditional indications for gastrointestinal radiology, like peptic ulcer and neoplastic disease, remain significant.
- There is a growing trend towards specialized applications, particularly for swallowing disorders and small bowel inflammatory conditions.
- These evolving indications necessitate adjustments in radiology resident educational curricula, considering the changing landscape of gastrointestinal imaging.