Etymed
steatorrhea
Definition
excessive fat in feces; fatty stool
Clinical context
A 45-year-old patient presents with frequent, bulky, malodorous stools that float in the toilet bowl. The patient reports weight loss and abdominal cramping after meals. Stool samples reveal excessive fat content on formal analysis. This presentation is consistent with malabsorption syndrome secondary to pancreatic insufficiency.
Mnemonic
FAT stools: Fatty, Abnormal, and Tenacious - think pancreatic enzyme deficiency