A case of chronic diarrhea caused by duodenocolic fistula / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

The four basic mechanisms that cause chronic diarrhea are osmotic, secretory and exudative factors, and abnormal intestinal transit. A gastrointestinal fistula cause chronic diarrhea by abnormal intestinal transit, and it must be included differential diagnosis for unknown cause of chronic diarrhea. Duodenocolic fistula is an uncommon cause of chronic diarrhea. The most common cause of duodenocolic fistula is a colon cancer. Benign duodenocolic fistula is a rare disease, which the most common cause is a duodenal ulcer. Patients usually complain of diarrhea, weight loss. Physical examinations are nonspecific. Barium enema is the most useful diagnostic procedure. Prognosis is good if surgery is undertaken at an early stage. We present a case of a 66-years old man in whom a duodenocolic fistula maybe caused by recurrent microperforation of duodenal ulcer. He complained of chronic diarrhea and weight loss. He had an operation on his fistula, and remained well.