ROSH Gastrointestinal Practice Exam

Which condition is likely for a 34-year-old woman presenting with skin lesions, weight loss, low-grade fever, and nonbloody diarrhea?

1. Acute myelogenous leukemia

2. Crohn disease

3. Hodgkin lymphoma

4. Sarcoidosis

The correct answer is: Crohn disease

The scenario describes a 34-year-old woman with skin lesions, weight loss, low-grade fever, and nonbloody diarrhea. These symptoms are characteristic of Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. In Crohn's disease, patients often experience a combination of gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and weight loss, alongside systemic manifestations including fever and skin lesions. The skin lesions can be due to various dermatologic conditions commonly associated with Crohn's, such as erythema nodosum or pyoderma gangrenosum. The presence of nonbloody diarrhea further supports this diagnosis, as such diarrhea is a common feature in Crohn's disease due to the inflammation and damage in the intestines affecting nutrient absorption and bowel function. Additionally, the combination of systemic symptoms like low-grade fever and weight loss indicates an inflammatory process, which aligns with the chronic inflammation seen in Crohn's disease. In contrast, acute myelogenous leukemia would present with more acute symptoms and would be less likely to cause nonbloody diarrhea as a primary symptom; Hodgkin lymphoma typically presents with lymphadenopathy and fever but is not usually associated with diarrhea; and sarcoidosis can cause various systemic symptoms and skin lesions