03-21-2008, 09:12 PM
A 77-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 2-day history of cramping abdominal pain and distention accompanied by nausea and vomiting. She is otherwise healthy and has no history of abdominal operations. Her temperature is 37.4 C (99.4 F), blood pressure is 110/86 mm Hg, pulse is 112/min, and respirations are 24/min. Cardiopulmonary examination shows no abnormalities. Examination of the abdomen shows distention and mild diffuse tenderness; bowel sounds are high-pitched. An x-ray film of the abdomen shows air-fluid levels throughout the small bowel and air in the liver; there is no gas in the colon or free air. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A
) Adhesive small-bowel obstruction
B
) Cecal cancer
C
) Gallstone ileus
D
) Intussusception
E
) Mesenteric infarction
F
) Ruptured appendicitis
G
) Small bowel lymphoma
A
) Adhesive small-bowel obstruction
B
) Cecal cancer
C
) Gallstone ileus
D
) Intussusception
E
) Mesenteric infarction
F
) Ruptured appendicitis
G
) Small bowel lymphoma