What abnormality would you suspect if a patient presents with unexplained weight loss and night sweats?

When a patient presents with symptoms such as unexplained weight loss and night sweats, one significant condition to consider is pancreatic cancer. These symptoms often indicate a malignancy, as weight loss can occur due to the body's increased metabolic demand as it fights cancer, decreased appetite, or malignancy-related cachexia. Night sweats can be associated with an underlying systemic condition like cancer, indicating that the body is undergoing a significant pathological process.

Pancreatic cancer specifically can present late in the disease course with these symptoms, as initial stages might not produce any noticeable signs. Additionally, pancreatic cancer can lead to obstructive symptoms and biliary involvement, contributing to patients' discomfort and weight loss.

In contrast, other conditions such as cholecystitis, gastric ulcer, and chronic pancreatitis might present with specific abdominal pain, digestive disturbances, or gallbladder-related symptoms, but they typically do not lead to the systemic symptoms of unexplained weight loss and night sweats in the same way that pancreatic cancer can.