PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of modified Small Bowel Follow Through(SBFT) with oral administration ofmethylcellulose in patients with small bowel pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 1995 and Fbmary1996, a total of 228 patients underwent modified SBFT ; in 71 of these, small bowel pathology was confirmed bysurgery(n=18), biopsy(n=29), or clinical diagnosis(n=24). After the administration of 150ml 70% w/v bariumsuspension the patient assumed the decubitus position for 5minutes and 600ml of 0.5% methylcellulose wasadministered. We measured transit time, time and frequency of flocculation, and the luminal diameter of thejejunum and ileum. Using four scales ("Excellent", "Good", "Fair", and "Poor"), three radiologists graded thequality of images. RESULTS: Mean transit time was 142 minutes, and the maximum diameter of the jejunum and ileumwas 2.9cm and 2.1 cm respectively ; in 45 patients (63%) the examination was concluded within 2 hours. The qualityof images was excellent in 29 cases(41%), good in 30(42%), fair in 8(11%), and poor in 3(4%). Imagies relating toinflammatory and vascular diseases were graded as "good" or "excellent" in 92% and 89% of cases, respectively, andthe image quality of lesions of the jejunum and ileum were graded, respectively, as "good" or "excellent" in 96%and 63% of cases. Usig this modified technique, sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 99%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Modified SBFT with the oral administration of methylcellulose is a simple but highly sensitive methodof evaluating small bowel deseases. It is especially valuable in cases of inflammatory and vascular disease of thesmall intestine and lesions in the jejunum.