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What Does My CT Scan Test Report Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015

Question: My sister recently died suddenly. She was being treated for melanoma. She had been taking Makinest and a Taflinar for a year. She had a CT on Dec. 13. It showed no cancer. Her labs on XXXXXXX 13 showed slight anemia. I believe the number was 11. She had slightly elevated white blood cell count that last test in XXXXXXX and also in Dec. she died XXXXXXX 31. Her husband said she had gotten up during the night complaining of a stomach ache. He also said she had been constipated a few days prior. At 7 am she asked him to help her to the bathroom. She dropped to the floor and threw up a dark brown to black fluid that covered half the pillow. He did CPR until paramedics arrived but it was too late. The five days before she was unusually tired but we all assumed it was because he pet had died 10 days prior. Her husband did not want an autopsy . If you have any insight as to what May happened it would be greatly appreciated!

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
gastrointestinal bleeding

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
I am so sorry for your loss.
From your description it sounds like she had some gastrointestinal bleeding. This may or may not have been related to the melanoma. Sometimes people develop ulcers or other problems in their stomach or intestines. This can lead to anemia if it is a slow chronic bleeding. Sometimes, for example, if there is an ulcer in the stomach that is causing slow bleeding, that ulcer can penetrate into a blood vessel causing a serious rapid bleed that can result in death. Dark brown or black fluid can indicate that there has been bleeding into the stomach or intestines that has been sitting there for a while, and is partially digested by enzymes in the stomach. That could be why it was dark colored and not bright red.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Again I am sorry for your loss.
Dr. Robinson

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Kathy Robinson (50 minutes later)

Symptomatic hemorrahagic bleeding was one of the side effects that was listed for her medication that she was on. Could that have been a possible cause also? She had been taking Advil for joint pain too. You're possible cause could have very well have been the reason also. Could the constipation have been related to the bleeding also?

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
doubt that the constipation is related

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your follow up.
I doubt that the constipation is related.
Many medications can have bleeding as a side effect. Even commonly used over the counter medications like advil can cause ulcers and bleeding. Hemorrhage is a known complication of Mekinist (a frequent treatment for melanoma) so if she was taking advil with this then it would increase her risk for bleeding complications.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad