Radiographic study of the phalanx and esophagus after ingestion of barium sulfate.
An X-ray study in which the patient swallows a mixture of barium sulfate and water to aid visualization of the esophagus; done to detect abnormal conditions of the esophagus.
Also known as an esophagogram or barium meal; an X-ray procedure that uses barium sulfate to outline the pharynx and esophagus. A flavored solution containing barium sulfate, a contrast medium, is swallowed, and a series of X rays is taken. The barium coats the pharynx and esophagus and appears white on X-ray film, allowing structural and functional abnormalities to show up as dark shapes.
Radiographic examination of the esophagus during and after introduction of a contrast medium consisting of barium sulfate. Structural abnormalities of the esophagus (such as strictures or tumors) and vessels (such as esophageal varices) may be demonstrated.
In the medical practice, barium is employed to envelop the throat, forming a protective coating that accentuates the visibility of the tissues lining this vital passageway. Consequently, the utilization of X-ray imaging enables the capture of detailed pictures, facilitating the visualization of the aforementioned throat tissues.