Provide a differential diagnosis based on the problem list, history, laboratory findings, and physical examination. Three relevant hypotheses are identified. A. Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, cancer, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome B . Both result in nutritional deficiencies and inflammatory reactions. The major distinction between the two is the morphology and distribution of the lesions.
Diverticulosis has a similar presentation, but is more acute in nature.
Mild Crohns disease may not be distinguishable from irritable bowel syndrome. Bowel cancer is also consistent with decreased appetite, anemia, bloody stool, abdominal cramping and pain. It is also associated with fatigue, which was not a symptom. More importantly, no mass was detected. Risk for bowel cancer is low in early adulthood.