A 7-year-old girl presents with microcytic anemia and pica. An Abdominal X-ray reveals a surprising finding, leading to an unexpected diagnosis.
A 7-year-old girl was referred to the emergency department for evaluation of abnormal blood work. Her family had recently made an immigration journey to the United States. Physical examination was notable for dental caries, mild conjunctival pallor, and no signs of neurodevelopmental delay. Laboratory studies showed a hemoglobin level of 10.5 g per deciliter (reference range, 11.3 to 14.6), a mean corpuscular volume of 64.4 fl (reference range, 77.8 to 86.5), and a ferritin level of 8 ng per milliliter (reference range, 10 to 320). An abdominal radiograph showed intraluminal radiodensities throughout the colon. Which of the following diagnoses best explains the patient’s laboratory and radiographic abnormalities?
