Combined use of double- and single-contrast barium enema in the evaluation of suspected colonic disease

The Modified Mayo Clinic technique: Emphasis on plausible significant reduction of colon cancer

OBJECTIVE

To compare the ability to detect colonic polyps using a modified Mayo Clinic (MMC) barium enema technique with that of the usual gold standard optical colonoscopy (OC).

METHODS

Patients considered at an average or increased risk of colorectal cancer were initially screened using the MMC technique. Patients who refused OC, those who had isolated rectal lesions and those with incomplete OC were excluded. Patients with mass lesions in the right colon or left colon were further assessed using OC.

RESULTS

A total of 142 consecutive patients were examined using the MMC technique. Of these, 18 patients were found to have mass lesions in the right or left colon and were further evaluated using OC. Sensitivity and specificity of the MMC technique for detecting colonic polyps/cancers of ≥ 0.3 cm were 87.5% and 80.0%, respectively. Most significantly, for detecting polyps of ≥ 1.0 cm, the false-negative rate was 0%.

CONCLUSIONS

The MMC technique may provide an alternative screening method to OC for the detection of colorectal polyps, particularly in countries where resources are scarce.