11-20-2006, 05:39 PM
A 24-year-old white woman presents complaining of 6 months of crampy abdominal pain. The pain has been localized to the right lower quadrant and is made worse by eating. She has also noted an increase in the number of her bowel movements to approximately four per day, and the stools have become semi-formed. She denies any fevers, chills, or night sweats during this period. She has lost 15 pounds from her baseline weight of 128 pounds over the past 6 months. She has also noted aching in her knees and ankles during this interval. On physical examination, she is slightly pale and has two oral aphthous ulcers on the inner lower lip. The abdomen is soft but tender in the right lower quadrant. No masses are palpable, and there is no hepatosplenomegaly. A rectal examination reveals brown stool, which is guaiac positive. Which of the following diagnostic tests would be most appropriate for this patient?
A. Abdominal CT scan
B. Barium enema
C. Sigmoidoscopy
D. Abdominal sonogram scan
E. Upper gastrointestinal and small bowel barium x-ray films
A. Abdominal CT scan
B. Barium enema
C. Sigmoidoscopy
D. Abdominal sonogram scan
E. Upper gastrointestinal and small bowel barium x-ray films