Differential Diagnosis for Ischemic Colitis
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Ischemic colitis: This is the most likely diagnosis given the presentation, as it is a common condition characterized by inflammation of the colon due to decreased blood flow, which can be caused by various factors such as atherosclerosis, embolism, or vasculitis.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Infectious colitis: This includes conditions such as Clostridioides difficile infection, Salmonella, Shigella, or Campylobacter, which can cause similar symptoms to ischemic colitis, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can present with chronic or recurrent abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, which may be confused with ischemic colitis.
- Diverticulitis: Inflammation of a diverticulum in the colon can cause abdominal pain, fever, and changes in bowel habits, which may be similar to the symptoms of ischemic colitis.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Mesenteric ischemia: This is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the blood flow to the intestines is severely reduced, which can lead to bowel infarction and death if not promptly treated.
- Colon cancer: Although less likely, colon cancer can cause abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and bloody stools, which may be similar to the symptoms of ischemic colitis, and is a critical diagnosis not to miss.
- Vasculitis: Conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus or polyarteritis nodosa can cause ischemic colitis and other systemic symptoms, and are important to consider in the differential diagnosis.
Rare Diagnoses
- Chronic intestinal ischemia: This is a rare condition characterized by recurring episodes of abdominal pain and weight loss due to chronic reduction in blood flow to the intestines.
- Eosinophilic colitis: A rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the colon, which can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools.
- Radiation colitis: A rare condition that occurs after radiation therapy to the abdomen, which can cause chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding.