Your patient complains of lower abdominal pain,anorexia,extreme fatigue,unintentional weight loss of 10 pounds in last 3 weeks,and you find a positive hemoccult on digital rectal examination.Laboratory tests show iron deficiency anemia.The clinician needs to consider:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The combination of lower abdominal pain, anorexia, extreme fatigue, unintentional weight loss, positive hemoccult on digital rectal examination, and iron deficiency anemia are suggestive of colon cancer. Diverticulitis may present with similar symptoms but typically does not cause iron deficiency anemia. Appendicitis typically presents with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and does not typically cause unintentional weight loss or iron deficiency anemia. Peptic ulcer disease typically presents with epigastric pain and may cause iron deficiency anemia, but it would not explain the positive hemoccult on digital rectal examination.

Your Patient Complains of Lower Abdominal Pain,anorexia,extreme Fatigue,unintentional Weight Loss