Melanosis Coli Center - Olathe, KS
Olathe Gastroenterologist Doctors for Melanosis ColiType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Olathe * GI Specialists PA  Quivira Internal Medicine  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  West Glen Gastrointestinal Consultants PA  West Glen Gastrointestinal Consultants PA  United Medical Group  United Medical Group  West Glen Gastrointestinal Consultants PA  West Glen Gastrointestinal Consultants PA  Brooks & Associates  Brooks & Associates  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Endoscopic Imaging Center  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Shawnee Mission Primary Care SMMB  Stanley N Brand MD  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  John B Sturgeon MD  Srinivasa Rao Vasa MD  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  University of Kansas Medical Center Gastroenterology  Sue A Brown MD  Reed Medical Group  Gaston I S Diallo MD  Lawrence Internal Medicine  Internal Medicine Group  Stormont-Vail Healthcare  Stormont-Vail Healthcare  Stormont-Vail Healthcare  Stormont-Vail Healthcare  Stormont-Vail Healthcare  Kansas Medical Clinic West  Kansas Medical Clinic West  Kansas Medical Clinic West Olathe, KansasUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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Melanosis ColiRead the Melanosis Coli article » What is melanosis coli?Melanosis coli is a condition usually associated with chronic laxative use in which dark pigment is deposited in the lamina propria (one of the lining layers) of the large intestine (colon). The pigment deposition results in a characteristic dark brown to black discoloration of the lining of the large intestine. This condition is sometimes called pseudomelanosis coli because the pigment deposits consist of a pigment known as lipofuscin and do not contain melanin as implied by the term "melanosis." Lipofuscin is a cellular pigment that forms when cells are destroyed, often called "wear and tear" pigment that can be found throughout the body. The dark color of the intestinal lining may be uniform or patterned, and the discoloration may be slight or very pronounced. The intensity and pattern of the discoloration may even vary among different sites in the colon of a patient. The condition may also be reversed upon discontinuation of laxative use. In some cases, the wall of the colon appears normal to the eye, but microscopic evaluation of biopsies by a pathologist reveals areas of pigment in the colon's lining. The pigment in melanosis coli does not accumulate in polyps or tumors of the large intestine.
What are the symptoms of melanosis coli?Melanosis coli does not cause symptoms. What causes melanosis coli?Melanosis coli usually results from chronic use of laxatives of the anthranoid group. Some examples of anthranoid laxatives are senna and rhubarb derivatives. Many of these laxatives have been in use for hundreds of years. In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of the popular anthranoid laxative phenolphthalein due to fears that it might be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Animal studies had shown that extremely high doses of phenolphthalein led to tumors in animals, but it has nev... Recommended Reading Related to Melanosis ColiConstipation facts
Other Related Melanosis Coli ArticlesEmergency Contact for Olathe
Nearby Olathe Hospitals *Olathe Medical Center Overland Park Regional Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Kansas City Saint Luke's South Hospital Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Hospital Menorah Medical Center Specialty Hospital of Mid America Children's Mercy South Mid-America Rehabilitation Hospital Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital Doctor's Hospital Shawnee Mission Medical Center Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute St Joseph Medical Center Kindred Hospital Kansas City Research Belton Hospital Research Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Western Missouri University of Kansas Hospital & Medical Center Rainbow Mental Health Facility Research Psychiatric Center Saint Luke's Hospital Providence Medical Center Crittenton Children's Center Children's Mercy Hospital & Clinics Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill Western Missouri Mental Health Center Kansas City VA Medical Center Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital Miami County Medical Center North Kansas City Hospital Lawrence Memorial Hospital Saint Luke's East Truman Medical Center Lakewood Lee's Summit Medical Center Osawatomie State Hospital Saint Luke's Northland Hospital Barry Road Campus Centerpoint Medical Center Children's Mercy Northland Cushing Memorial Hospital Saint John Hospital VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System Leavenworth Cass Regional Medical Center Ransom Memorial Hospital St Mary's Medical Center Liberty Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Colon Cancer
- Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
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Constipation
- Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Colon Polyps
- A colon polyp is a benign tumor of the large intestine. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can easily be removed during colonoscopy and are not life threatening. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant over time.
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Laxatives for Constipation
- Laxatives for treatment of constipation include over-the-counter preparations such as bulk-forming laxatives, stool softeners, lubricant laxatives, stimulant laxatives, saline laxatives, enemas and suppositories. Some over-the-counter laxatives are not recommended for patients with specific diseases or conditions. Some laxatives may have negative adverse effects if taken over long periods of time.
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Colon Cancer Prevention
- Colo-rectal cancer is both curable and preventable if it is detected early and completely removed before the cancerous cells metastasize to other parts of the body. Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy (along with digital rectal examination and stool occult blood testing) are both effective at preventing colo-rectal cancers and detecting early colo-rectal cancers.
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Colon Cancer
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