The 'amputated right colon'--a diagnostic pitfall on barium enema examination. A report of 6 cases.

Six patients had strictures of the right colon not causing clinical obstruction. The strictures did not fill during barium enema tests resulting in the 'amputated' proximal right colon mimicking the caecum and/or terminal ileum. Positive caecal identification relies on terminal ileal and appendiceal filling. In 4 patients, a barium follow-through study, performed immediately after a barium enema allowed quick and safe identification of a proximal colonic stricture.