We discussed about the fundermental problems of X-ray examination of oesophagus. In the fluoloscopic examination of oesophagus, hitherto many physicians examined it in the right oblique position. But in my opinion, in the principal methode of fluoloscopic examination of oesophagus, upright postero-anterior position and lateral position should be included. And if necessary, other arbituary positions must be considered. But the examination with lateral position with 60-70 KV X-rays are difficult because of low penetration of the X-ray in these voltage range. 140 KV X-ray is adequate for the oesophagus examination if these positions. The 140 KV X-ray is more usefull for the analysis of oesophagus lesion. Postero-anterior radiogram of oesophagus of about 60 KV is hard to read, as most of delicate changes are obscured by dense Ba shadow. The lower the voltage of X-ray is, the more the exposure dose to patients.
In order to reach the precise diagnosis of pulmonal and mediastinal diseases, we have to examine the oesophagus with X-ray. For instance, we have experienced a patient of the perforation of oesophagus cancer who was misdiagnosed as lung abscess, and this patient did not show any oesophageal complaint, also an other case of oesophageal cancer was overlooked by other physician as this patient did not complain any system due to oesophagus stenosis; this case was diagnosed with our routine oesophagus examination.
We recommend 30 to 50cc hard Ba meal (Ba 2.5: Water 1) for the X-ray examination of oesophagus. This Ba meal can fill the total length of oesophagus for about 5 to 30 minutes and if a small quantity is used, oesophageal mucosal pattern is demonstrated.
Now we are examining routinely with this methode, the oesophageal of patients who come to our department with gastro-intestinal complaint.
We are perfoming this routine examination to find out early cancer of oesophagus.
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