American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test 2026 - Free Pathology Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

The presence of excess fat in stool is referred to as steatorrhea. This condition arises when there is an abnormal amount of fat in the feces, which typically occurs due to malabsorption in the gastrointestinal tract. When the intestines are unable to properly absorb fats from the diet, these fats are instead excreted in the stool, leading to a characteristic oily appearance and a foul odor.

Steatorrhea can be a clinical manifestation of several underlying conditions, such as pancreatic insufficiency, celiac disease, or other malabsorptive disorders. Recognizing steatorrhea is important because it can provide key insights into gastrointestinal health and help in diagnosing conditions that lead to malabsorption.

While hyperlipidemia refers to elevated levels of lipids in the blood and cholecystitis describes inflammation of the gallbladder, they do not specifically denote the excess fat in stool. Malabsorption, although related to the process that causes steatorrhea, is a broader term that encompasses any impairment in nutrient absorption, not just fats. Therefore, steatorrhea is the precise term that directly addresses the condition of having excess fat in the stool.