Clinical application of in vitro studies for barium-enema examination following colorectal biopsy.

A total of 150 colorectal biopsies were performed in 71 patients and correlated with the barium-enema examination (BE). The investigation was divided into two parts. In the first part, involving 19 patients, the depth of each biopsy specimen was determined histologically prior to BE and potential complications related to the biopsy-BE sequence were evaluated. In the second part, involving all 71 patients, the depth of biopsy specimens taken from various colon lesions was determined histologically without regard to the timing of BE. The results confirm previous in vitro findings in pigs and dogs, namely: (a) BE may be performed without delay following a superficial biopsy, but should not be performed until at least 6 days after a deep biopsy; (b) transcolonoscopic biopsies are likely to be superficial, while transproctoscopic biopsies have the potential to be deep; and (c) BE should be delayed at least 6 days following polypectomy or polyp biopsy performed with electrosurgery.