Hypotonic duodenography--too often performed but of too little value? A comparison with conventional spot films.

Hypotonic duodenography was compared with conventional barium examination in 68 patients (70 examinations) with clinically suggested or verified disease of the pancreas or duodenum. In 13 cases (18.5%) conventional examination demonstrated the duodenal anatomy better than hypotonic duodenography. In nine cases (13%) hypotonic duodenography was superior and in 48 cases (68.5%) both techniques were diagnostically equal. It is concluded that, in only a few cases, does hypotonic duodenography add any diagnostic information to that which can be obtained with properly performed conventional examination of the duodenum.