Abdominal radiographs are commonly used as an imaging tool to look for signs of intestinal obstruction. Although this diagnosis cannot be excluded if the radiograph is normal, it is a first-line clinical indication because it is easy, quick, and common.

A small intestine x-ray is one of the few diagnostic imaging methods available for the small intestine. To make the images clearer and easier to see, a small intestine x-ray film may be used with a contrast medium. As the barium sulfate coats the walls of the small intestine, the x-rays pass through the soft tissues, creating bright images that allow problems in the small intestine to be detected.