Gastrointestinal radiology in the United States: An overview of the past 50 years.

Gastrointestinal radiology has expanded its scope beyond conventional abdominal radiography, barium studies, and cholecystography. Ultrasonography allows imaging of solid abdominal organs and the intestine without the use of radiation. Computed tomography now allows comprehensive assessment of abdominal and pelvic inflammatory and infectious processes, obstruction, tumor detection and staging, and display of vasculature and blunt trauma effects that were not possible 50 years ago. Magnetic resonance imaging provides multiplanar imaging to the same degree, without the use of radiation. Barium studies of the gastrointestinal tract, enteroclysis for small-bowel assessment, and conventional radiography still have a role, despite the extensive use of fiberoptic endoscopy. Fluoroscopy is still important, but great advances in technologies have changed gastrointestinal radiology irrevocably.