Weight loss Unintentional DDx

Unintentional Weight loss – Differential Diagnosis

Common causes

Must Not Miss

Easily missed

Red flags

  • Rapid weight loss >5% body weight
  • Systemic symptoms
    • (fever, night sweats, bone pain)
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Polyuria & Polydipsia
  • Localising Red flags
    • Haemoptysis/ Dyspnoea
    • Jaundice
    • New onset Dyspepsia > 50 years old
    • Dysphagia
    • Persistent altered bowel habit
    • Rectal bleeding
    • Haematuria
    • Breast lump
    • PMB
  • Past history of cancer

Investigations to consider

  • FBC, CRP/ESR
  • U+Es, LFTs, TFTs Bone profile, Serum glucose, Amylase
  • Coeliac screen
  • HIV screen
  • Mantoux test
  • Urinalysis
  • CXR
  • OGD
  • Barium enema/Colonoscopy
  • CT scan (chest, abdomen, pelvis)