Visualization of the mucosal villi on double-contrast barium studies of the small intestine by using a high molecular fraction of guaran.

Guaran is a water-soluble polysaccharide from the seed endosperm of Cyanopsis tetragonolobus. A high molecular fraction of guaran, when added to barium, enhances barium coating of the intestinal mucosa. This study reports its use to demonstrate the mucosal villi of the small intestine during double-contrast barium examination in the rat and in the human. In the animal model, individual villi were identified surrounded by pools of barium. In the human, a granular pattern caused by the villi was seen. Individual villi were visible with high-definition radiography. This was confirmed by microscopic studies of biopsy specimens in which the villi were shown to have the same diameters as the structures seen on high-definition radiography.