What is a barium enema?      Why is a barium enema performed? 
Your doctor may recommend a barium enema is to diagnose diseases
and conditions of the colon and rectum including:    • Abdominal
pain, if the underlying cause has not been found through other,
less invasive tests. Abdominal pain can be caused by many
conditions from inflammatory bowel disease to intestinal ulcer.
• Abnormal changes in your bowel movements, such as chronic
constipation or diarrhea   • Anemia (low red blood cell count),
if the underlying cause has not been found through less invasive
testing. A barium enema can identify masses or growths in the
colon which can cause bleeding.   • Bleeding symptoms, such as
rectal bleeding, bloody stool, or black, tarry feces. Potential
causes of such bleeding include colon cancer and intestinal
inflammation or damage.   • Colon cancer. A barium enema can
identify abnormal growths, polyps, and masses in the intestines.
• Colon polyps, abnormal growths in the large intestine that can
become canc