CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

When is a small bowel follow-through considered complete?

1. When the contrast reaches the cecum

2. When the contrast reaches the jejunum

3. When the contrast is fully absorbed

4. When the patient feels no pain

The correct answer is: When the contrast reaches the cecum

A small bowel follow-through is considered complete when the contrast reaches the cecum. This indicates that the contrast material has traversed the entire small bowel, moving through the duodenum and jejunum before entering the ileum and finally reaching the cecum, which is the point where the small bowel connects to the large intestine. Evaluating the journey of contrast to the cecum ensures that the entire small intestine has been visualized adequately, which is the primary goal of this imaging procedure. The other scenarios do not signify a complete study. If the contrast only reaches the jejunum, it implies that the examination is incomplete, as the entire small bowel has not been assessed. Contrast absorption is part of the physiological process post-imaging but does not denote the completion of the follow-through itself. Likewise, the patient's comfort level, such as feeling no pain, is not an indicator of the study's completion; rather, imaging success is determined by the anatomical progression of the contrast through the small bowel.