Upper GI and small bowel series

An upper GI and small bowel series is done in a health care office or hospital radiology department. You may get an injection of a medicine that slows muscle movement in the small intestine. This makes it easier to see the structures of your organs on the x-rays. Before the x-rays are taken, you must drink 16 to 20…

You may have to change your diet for 2 or 3 days before the test. In most cases, you will not be able to eat for a period of time before the test. Be sure to ask your health care provider if you need to change how you take any of your medicines. Often you can continue taking the medicines you take by mouth. Never make…

The x-ray may cause mild bloating but no discomfort most of the time. The barium milkshake feels chalky as you drink it.

This test is done to look for a problem in the structure or function of your esophagus, stomach, or small intestine.

A normal result shows that the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine are normal in size, shape, and movement. Normal value ranges may vary depending on the lab doing the test. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Abnormal results in the esophagus may indicate the following problems: Achalasia Diverticula Esophageal cancer Esophageal narrowing (stricture) - benign Hiatal hernia Ulcers Abnormal results in the stomach may indicate the following problems: Gastric cancer Gastric ulcer - benign Gastritis Polyps (a tumor that is…

You are exposed to a low level of radiation during this test, which carries a very small risk for cancer. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women should not have…

The upper GI series should be done after other x-ray procedures. This is because the barium that remains in the body may block details in other imaging tests.

Agosto O, Dass C, Caroline DF. The stomach. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 20. Levine MS, Gore RM. Diagnostic imaging procedures in gastroenterology. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil…