Barium Esophagography: A Study for All Seasons

Although a variety of diagnostic procedures are often performed on patients with pharyngeal or esophageal symptoms, barium esophagography is a noninvasive, inexpensive, and readily available test that can simultaneously evaluate swallowing function, esophageal motility, gastroesophageal reflux, and a host of structural abnormalities in the pharynx and esophagus. This article reviews the role of barium esophagography for assessing swallowing function, morphologic abnormalities of the pharynx (diverticula, webs, and carcinoma), esophageal motility disorders (achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm), and morphologic abnormalities of the esophagus (reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, infectious esophagitis, drug-induced esophagitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, Schatzki's ring, and esophageal carcinoma).