Gastrointestinal and genitourinary fluoroscopy: a pictorial essay of a useful evergreen technique

Until recently, the use of direct contrast examinations with oral or intracavitary contrast agents was widespread in all general radiology departments. It provided significant answers to multiple clinical questions on the enteric organs and their mucosal surfaces. With the increased availability of CT and MRI, which also allow for the study of walls, as well as the accessibility of endoscopic examinations, the request and execution of fluoroscopy contrast studies have fallen considerably. Despite this, fluoroscopy contrast exams are still useful in specific clinical queries; therefore, radiologists should be able to provide their diagnostic contributions. This pictorial essay of clinical cases collected in our radiology department demonstrates the current demand for these examinations, the variety of the clinical questions we are called upon to answer and the need for continued expertise in execution and diagnostic interpretation of such studies.