Which findings are typical on physical examination of cachexia?

Study for ELNEC 4: Symptom Management in Palliative Care Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Hints and explanations included! Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which findings are typical on physical examination of cachexia?

Cachexia shows a loss of lean body mass with fat depletion and functional decline, driven by inflammatory and metabolic changes. On examination, you typically see weight loss accompanied by visible muscle wasting, reduced strength, and loss of subcutaneous fat, reflecting their decreased energy stores and impaired synthesis of muscle and fat. Gastric motility can be affected in advanced disease, contributing to symptoms like early satiety, which is why gastric stasis can be seen in this context. These features collectively explain why this option best captures the physical exam findings of cachexia. Edema and ascites are fluid-related and not defining features of cachexia itself; hyperactive reflexes aren’t characteristic; jaundice points to liver or biliary problems rather than cachexia.

Cachexia shows a loss of lean body mass with fat depletion and functional decline, driven by inflammatory and metabolic changes. On examination, you typically see weight loss accompanied by visible muscle wasting, reduced strength, and loss of subcutaneous fat, reflecting their decreased energy stores and impaired synthesis of muscle and fat. Gastric motility can be affected in advanced disease, contributing to symptoms like early satiety, which is why gastric stasis can be seen in this context. These features collectively explain why this option best captures the physical exam findings of cachexia.

Edema and ascites are fluid-related and not defining features of cachexia itself; hyperactive reflexes aren’t characteristic; jaundice points to liver or biliary problems rather than cachexia.

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