Background and Aim
Interpreting stool form diaries for subtyping patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is cumbersome; a picture showing a trend would be easier to interpret.
Methods
Fifty‐one consecutive adults with IBS (median age 35.5 years; 47 men), diagnosed using the Rome III criteria, were given a picture of the Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) and asked to record their stool frequency and form for 7 days. The numbers were plotted by a technician as dots on a chart. On the
y
axis, BSFS category 4 was marked as 0, harder stools as +1 to +3, and softer stools as −1 to −3; each bowel movement was represented on the
x
axis. A line graph was plotted by connecting the dots. Each “fecograph” was then given for visual interpretation to three gastroenterologists (observers). When most readings appeared to be 0, +1, or −1, it was to be reported as normal; most above +1 as IBS‐constipation (IBS‐C); most below −1 as IBS‐diarrhea (IBS‐D); and readings crossing 1 on either side as IBS‐mixed (IBS‐M). If no clear trend was noted, it was IBS‐unclassified (IBS‐U). Each observer reported all graphs in different orders twice, at 1‐month intervals; thus, 306 reports were available. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated.
Results
Eighteen patients had IBS‐C, 13 IBS‐D, 4 IBS‐M, and 16 IBS‐U. The 51 fecographs were reported in mean 20 min 36 s. ICC for intra‐ and interobserver reliability was 0.62 (0.50–0.73).
Conclusion
The fecograph is a reliable and easy‐to‐use tool to subtype patients with IBS.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare inherited autosomal disease characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentation and multiple polyps in the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical picture is characterized by repeated episodes of polyp-induced intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain, and bleeding per rectum. Predisposition to both gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal malignancies is increased in a patient with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. This is a case report of a 29-year-old male with PeutzJeghers syndrome who presented with a complaint of recurrent abdominal pain. CT scan revealed a single obstructing ileal polyp. However, preoperatively, another large ileal polyp with multiple small jejunal polyps was seen. Histopathology of both ileal polyps was identified as a mucinous adenocarcinoma infiltrating up to the serosa. The follow-up endoscopies showed small multiple polyps in the stomach, duodenum, and colon. Histopathology of all endoscopically removed polyps was consistent with the diagnosis of hamartomatous polyps. Very few cases of intestinal intussusception combined with synchronous malignant small intestine polyps have been reported until to date.
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