It has been known for a long time that malignant lymphomas may cause a malabsorption syndrome which fully resembles idiopathic steatorrhoea [18]. The clinical differential diagnosis may be very difficult.
Malabsorption is difficulty digesting food in general or, more specifically, not being able to absorb nutrients like fats, proteins, sugar or vitamins from food. There are many diseases that can cause malabsorption, including celiac disease, chronic liver disease, AIDS, Crohn's disease and certain types of cancer.
Cancers produce chemicals that change the way your body uses – or absorbs – some nutrients (malabsorption). This can cause a condition called cachexia, which is characterized by loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle loss and overall weakness.
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), a change in bowel habit, such as more frequent, looser stools, and abdominal (tummy) pain. However, these symptoms are very common.
Some causes include: Infectious diseases such as Whipple's disease and tropical sprue. Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease.
Ongoing malabsorption syndrome is more likely if you have one of the following digestive diseases: Celiac disease. Cystic fibrosis (your body produces thick mucus that interferes with lung and digestive health) Crohn's disease (the inflammation from this disorder makes it harder for your intestines to absorb nutrients)
Blood tests can help to diagnose bowel cancer.
Colon cancer is typically slow-growing, starting as a benign polyp that eventually becomes malignant. This process may occur over many years without producing any symptoms. Once colon cancer has developed, it may still be years before it is detected.
One of the characteristic features of pancreatic cancer (PC) is pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI). This leads to a malabsorption syndrome and subsequent digestive symptoms. Given the high prevalence of PEI and malabsorption in PC, empiric use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is recommended.
Many pancreatic cancer patients experience diarrhea, constipation or both. Diarrhea consisting of loose, watery, oily or foul-smelling stools can be caused by insufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes in the intestines. This leads to malabsorption as undigested food passes quickly through the digestive tract.
Digestion problems
For example, a common cause of malabsorption is insufficient production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas, which occurs with some pancreatic diseases, or by the small intestine, which occurs in lactase deficiency. Lactose intolerance is caused... read more .
Malabsorptive Syndromes
Fatty stools (steatorrhea) are the hallmark of malabsorption; a stool test for fat is the best screening test. Malabsorption does not always cause diarrhea. Clinical signs of vitamin or mineral deficiencies may occur in the absence of diarrhea.
Chronic diarrhea is the most common symptom and is what usually prompts evaluation of the patient. Steatorrhea—fatty stool, the hallmark of malabsorption—occurs when > 7 g/day of fat are excreted. Steatorrhea causes foul-smelling, pale, bulky, and greasy stools.
Possible symptoms of bowel cancer
a lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or tummy (abdomen), more commonly on the right side. a feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you need to poo), even after opening your bowels. losing weight. pain in your abdomen or back passage.
The main test for bowel cancer is a colonoscopy. This is where a thin, flexible, tube with a camera is used to look inside your bowel. It may be uncomfortable but it should not be painful. You'll be offered a sedative and painkillers to help make you feel more comfortable.
Colon cancer can cause poop (stool) changes such as blood in the stool and stools that are looser and more frequent. People with colon cancer may also have other symptoms such as abdominal pain. These symptoms don't necessarily mean you have colon cancer, however.
What autoimmune disease causes malabsorption? Autoimmune diseases like celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and Crohn's disease can cause malabsorption syndrome.
Fat malabsorption is associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a health condition where the body does not produce enough digestive enzymes or produces digestive enzymes that do not work properly.
Hematologic tests indicated in the workup of malabsorption include the following: A complete blood cell (CBC) count may reveal microcytic anemia due to iron deficiency or macrocytic anemia due to vitamin B12 (cobalamin) or B9 (folate) malabsorption.
There are three stages of nutrient absorption: luminal, mucosal, postabsorptive. Malabsorption syndromes are categorized according to which of these three stages is or are affected.
Vitamin D deficiency in patients with intestinal malabsorption syndromes--think in and outside the gut.