Use of the barium enema in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its complications.

The value of barium enema examination in diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with equivocal findings has been confirmed by our experience with five patients. Cecal spasm, extrinsic compression of the cecum, nonvisualization of the appendix, and partial visualization of the appendix appear to be useful roentgenographic signs, either singly or in combination, in diagnosing acute appendicitis. We have had absolute pathologic correlation between the barium enema findings andthe subsequent clinical course of all the patients in whom we conducted this examination. When performed by an experienced radiologist, the barium enema examination carries no increased risk, and we have seen no complications from this procedure.