Table 69-2.

PHYSICAL FINDINGS IN INTESTINAL DISEASE

Physical Finding	Potential Clinical Associations
General Physical Examination
Dehydration	Diarrheal fluid loss
Depression/weakness	Electrolyte imbalance, severe debilitation
Emaciation/malnutrition	Chronic malabsorption, protein-losing enteropathy
Dull unthrifty haircoat	Malabsorption of fatty acids, protein, and vitamins
Fever	Infection, transmural inflammation, neoplasia
Edema, ascites, pleural effusion	Protein-losing enteropathy
Pallor (anemia)	Gastrointestinal blood loss, anemia of chronic inflammation
Intestinal Palpation
Masses	Foreign body, neoplasia, granuloma
Thickened loops	Infiltration (inflammation, lymphoma)
“Sausage loop”	Intussusception
Aggregated loops	Linear intestinal foreign body, peritoneal adhesions
Pain	Inflammation, obstruction, ischemia, peritonitis
Gas or fluid distention	Obstruction, ileus, diarrhea
Mesenteric lymphadenopathy	Inflammation, infection, neoplasia
Rectal Palpation
Masses	Polyp, granuloma, neoplasia
Circumferential narrowing	Stricture, spasm, neoplasia
Coarse mucosal texture	Colitis, neoplasia