Barium contrast swallow or esophagogram is a positive radiographic contrast medium for evaluation of gastrointestinal disorders and has been associated as one of the initial applications of X-rays in medicine. The arrival of ultrasonography, endoscopy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance relegated barium examinations to a lesser degree of importance. These ‘new’ techniques are more invasive, time consuming, expensive, and not without ambiguity or complications. Barium swallow is particularly helpful to evaluate structural characteristics of swallowing mechanics at pharyngeal level, morphological abnormalities, esophageal motility disorders, distal and gastric pathology.