The effect of barium suspension viscosity on the delineation of areae gastricae.

The viscosity of a barium suspension is an important and controllable variable that influences the quality of mucosal detail demonstrated by double-contrast upper gastrointestinal examination. High-density barium suspensions show a notable viscosity response to seemingly trivial changes in the amount of water added. A double-blind trial involving 600 patients used E-Z-HD of the same batch number suspended with 65-70 ml water. Overall, areae gastricae covering at least 25% of the stomach surface were seen in 68.3%; no or minimal areae gastricae were seen in 31.7%. The corresponding figures for the suspension of optimal viscosity were 80% and 20%, respectively.