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Barium ingestion

Barium ingestion

Overview

An upper GI series is performed to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. The purpose of the test is to detect abnormalities in those areas.

Review Date 11/3/2022

Updated by: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.