Painful irritable bowel syndrome and sigmoid contractions.

Fifteen patients with abdominal pain compatible with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were examined by barium enema and pressure recording. Strong circular contractions of the sigmoid colon and pressure recordings correlated with the characteristic pain in 13 of the 15 patients. In 15 control patients no pain occurred. It is concluded that pain and high pressure are caused by strong circular sigmoidal contractions. Such findings enable the radiologist to contribute to the diagnosis of IBS.