Evaluation of steatorrhea

Last reviewed: 3 Apr 2025
Last updated: 25 Jul 2023

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Celiac disease
Full details

Uncommon

  • Giardiasis
  • Whipple disease
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Head of the pancreas cancer
  • Lymphoma
  • Gastrointestinal amyloidosis
  • Medication-induced malabsorption
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Bacterial overgrowth
  • Crohn disease
  • Resection of stomach, pancreas, or small bowel
  • Primary biliary cholangitis
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Laura S. Chiu, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Gastroenterology Division

Department of Medicine

Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine

Boston

MA

Disclosures

LSC declares that she has no competing interests.

Alan C. Moss, MD

Professor of Medicine

Boston University

Boston

MA

Disclosures

ACM declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Peter R. Holt, MD, FACP

Professor of Medicine (Emeritus)

Columbia University

Senior Research Associate

Rockefeller University

New York

NY

Disclosures

PRH declares that he has no competing interests.

Senthilkumar Sankararaman, MD

​Assistant Professor

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology

UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

Cleveland

OH

Disclosures

SS declares that he has no competing interests.

Raffaele Pezzilli, MD

Chief of the Pancreas Unit

Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology

Sant’ Orsola-Malpighi Hospital

Bologna

Italy

Disclosures

RP declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Conwell DL, Lee LS, Yadav D, et al. American Pancreatic Association practice guidelines in chronic pancreatitis: evidence-based report on diagnostic guidelines. Pancreas. 2014 Nov;43(8):1143-62.Full text  Abstract

Rubio-Tapia A, Hill ID, Semrad C, et al. American College of Gastroenterology guidelines update: diagnosis and management of celiac disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2023 Jan 1;118(1):59-76.Full text  Abstract

Phillips ME, Hopper AD, Leeds JS, et al. Consensus for the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: UK practical guidelines. BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2021 Jun;8(1):e000643.Full text  Abstract

Gardner TB, Adler DG, Forsmark CE, et al. ACG clinical quideline: chronic pancreatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Mar:115(3):322-39.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

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