Case 29-1988: A 74-Year-Old Woman with Chronic Diarrhea

Presentation of Case A 74-year-old woman was referred to the hospital because of chronic diarrhea. She was well until about eight months earlier, when her bowel habit changed from the passage of a single formed stool every two or three days to the daily passage of two to four loose stools that were not greasy. She began to experience crampy lower abdominal pain that was most prominent after meals, was never severe, and was usually relieved by defecation. She had occasional nausea, without vomiting, and lost approximately 5 kg in weight during the year before admission. Evaluation before referral showed.