S2D: The Symptom to Diagnosis Podcast Unintentional Weight Loss
Nov 2, 2021
A clinical case follows a 60-year-old woman with dramatic weight loss and a complex medical history. The discussion covers systematic evaluation steps, key baseline tests, and when to image or scope. They explore metabolic causes like severe hyperglycemia from pancreatic insufficiency and practical treatment considerations. Practical pitfalls and high-yield exam findings are highlighted.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cancer Is Common But Not The Usual Cause
- Cancer is the most common single cause of unintentional weight loss but still accounts for less than half of cases.
- Expect malignancy in roughly 19–36% of series, so broaden your differential to include social, endocrine, and GI causes.
Ask About Diet Changes And Recent Motivation
- Ask about deliberate diet changes and recent behavioral triggers because intentional dieting explains many cases.
- If a clear diet change follows a medical scare (MI, new diabetes), consider observation rather than invasive testing.
Probe For Malabsorption Even Without Diarrhea
- Check for diarrhea or malabsorption because GI causes narrow the differential and justify targeted GI testing.
- Remember malabsorption may present without watery diarrhea; ask about bulky or floating stools and steatorrhea.