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Floating faeces in steatorrhoea--a new sign
1Department of Radiology, Hull Royal Infirmary.
Clinical Radiology
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Floating feces indicate steatorrhea, a condition of fatty stools. This new sign, observed during barium enemas, aids in diagnosing malabsorption syndromes.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Diagnostic Medicine
Background:
- Steatorrhea, characterized by fatty stools, presents diagnostic challenges.
- Traditional methods for identifying steatorrhea can be invasive or lack specificity.
Observation:
- A novel radiological sign for steatorrhea has been identified.
- This sign involves the appearance of fatty particulate fecal matter floating on denser barium during double contrast enema examinations.
Findings:
- The fatty stool in steatorrhea resists normal colonic cleansing.
- A pathognomic appearance is created by the distinct layer of floating fatty fecal matter atop barium on horizontal beam films.
Implications:
- This sign offers a non-invasive, visually distinct indicator for diagnosing steatorrhea.
- Enhanced diagnostic capabilities for malabsorption syndromes can be achieved through this radiological finding.