Your doctor may choose to perform an X-ray examination of the small intestine (small bowel), a common type of GI tract exam. This exam may take several hours because it documents the progression of barium through the small bowel.

A small bowel exam may be performed to investigate the following conditions:

• Suspected small bowel neoplasm, e.g. small bowel cancer
• Hematochezia
• Positive fecal occult blood test
• Suspected small bowel obstruction that has been managed conservatively
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease)