A Patient Who Is Visiting the Clinic Reports Having "Stomach

Multiple Choice

A patient who is visiting the clinic reports having "stomach pains for 2 weeks" and describes his stools as being "soft and black" for approximately the last 10 days. He denies taking any medications. What do these symptoms suggest?

A) Excessive fat caused by malabsorption
B) Absent bile pigment from liver problems
C) Increased iron intake, resulting from a change in diet
D) Occult blood, resulting from gastrointestinal bleeding