Differential Diagnosis for Pulmonary Nodules, Hypoalbuminemia, Weight Loss, and Chronic Diarrhea
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Gastrointestinal Lymphoma: This diagnosis could explain all symptoms, as lymphoma can cause weight loss, hypoalbuminemia due to malabsorption from gastrointestinal involvement, chronic diarrhea, and pulmonary nodules if the lymphoma has spread to the lungs.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can lead to chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and hypoalbuminemia due to malabsorption and chronic inflammation. Pulmonary nodules could be related to extraintestinal manifestations of IBD or to a complication such as pulmonary embolism.
- Tuberculosis (TB): TB can cause pulmonary nodules, weight loss, and chronic diarrhea if there is gastrointestinal involvement. Hypoalbuminemia could result from chronic disease and malabsorption.
- Whipple's Disease: A rare bacterial infection that can cause malabsorption leading to weight loss, hypoalbuminemia, and chronic diarrhea. Pulmonary involvement is less common but can occur.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Lung Cancer with Metastasis: Although less likely to cause chronic diarrhea directly, lung cancer can lead to weight loss, hypoalbuminemia (in advanced stages), and pulmonary nodules. Gastrointestinal metastasis could explain the diarrhea.
- Wegener's Granulomatosis (Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, GPA): An autoimmune disease that can affect the lungs (causing nodules) and the gastrointestinal system (leading to chronic diarrhea), and can also cause weight loss and hypoalbuminemia due to chronic inflammation.
Rare Diagnoses
- Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: A rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and hypoalbuminemia. Pulmonary involvement is rare but could explain the pulmonary nodules.
- Histiocytosis X (Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis): A rare disorder that can affect multiple systems, including the lungs (causing nodules) and the gastrointestinal system (leading to chronic diarrhea), and can also cause weight loss and hypoalbuminemia due to systemic involvement.