The following case presentation is for questions 15 and 16:
A 55 year old woman with scleroderma has, in addition to complaints of dysphagia to solids
and liquids, a one year history of non-bloody diarrhea. She has additional symptoms of
abdominal gas and bloating. She has lost approximately 10 lbs. In evaluating her dysphagia
an upper gastrointestinal series with barium is performed and the radiologist gives more
barium to allow examination of the small intestine. The small intestinal portion of the test is
remarkable for several small bowel diverticula. You suspect her diarrheal symptoms are due
to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome.