Which term refers to a hard fecal mass in the colon?

Which term refers to a hard fecal mass in the colon?

• A. Fecalith
• B. Diverticulum
• C. Crohn disease
• D. Ileus

Answer: (A)

A fecalith is a hard mass of stool in the colon. It forms when stool becomes compacted and can even calcify, producing a dense, stone-like piece of stool. This word specifically describes that hard mass, which is different from other GI terms: a diverticulum is an outpouching of the bowel wall, Crohn disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, and ileus is a generalized decrease or stoppage of intestinal movement. So the term that best fits a hard fecal mass in the colon is fecalith.

A fecalith is a hard mass of stool in the colon. It forms when stool becomes compacted and can even calcify, producing a dense, stone-like piece of stool. This word specifically describes that hard mass, which is different from other GI terms: a diverticulum is an outpouching of the bowel wall, Crohn disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, and ileus is a generalized decrease or stoppage of intestinal movement. So the term that best fits a hard fecal mass in the colon is fecalith.