Melanosis Coli Center - Penn Hills, PA
Penn Hills 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 Penn Hills * Mahesh Varindani MD  Darrell K Reed MD PC  Geoffrey D Block MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Kelly & Wood Ltd  Kelly & Wood Ltd  Kelly & Wood Ltd  Kelly & Wood Ltd  Kelly & Wood Ltd  Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC  Joel Kichler MD  Medical Gastroenterology Group  Associates in Gastroenterology of Pittsburgh  Associates in Gastroenterology of Pittsburgh  University of Pittsburgh Physicians Gastroenterology  University of Pittsburgh Physicians Gastroenterology  University of Pittsburgh Physicians Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  University of Pittsburgh Physicians Gastroenterology  University of Pittsburgh Physicians  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Diagnostic Digestive Disease Associates  Satish Kanakamedala MD  Digestive Disease Consultants  Digestive Disease Consultants  Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC  UPMC Center for Liver Diseases  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Center for Liver Diseases  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Center for Liver Diseases  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  GI Surgical Oncology  UPMC Center for Liver Diseases  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  UPMC Digestive Disorders Center  Drs Narla & Nothmann  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Ragunath Appasamy MD PhD  Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates  Parth Bharill MD  Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates  Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates  Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates  Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates  Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates  Tri-State Colorectal Associates  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health  Gastroenterology Associates of Pittsburgh  Gastroenterology Associates of Pittsburgh  Mitre Gastroenterology Associates  Mitre Gastroenterology Associates  Rahim Sotoodehfar MD  Southwest Gastroenterology Associates  Southwest Gastroenterology Associates  Southwest Gastroenterology Associates  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Digestive Care Consultants PC  Associates in Gastroenterology  Associates in Gastroenterology  Associates in Gastroenterology  Center for Digestive Health  Center for Digestive Health  Center for Digestive Health  Center for Digestive Health  Center for Digestive Health  Center for Digestive Health  Center for Digestive Health  Allegheny Center for Digestive Health Penn Hills, PennsylvaniaUpcoming 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 Penn Hills
Nearby Penn Hills Hospitals *HEALTHSOUTH Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital UPMC St Margaret VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Main Campus Transitional Infant Care Hospital The Children's Institute UPMC Shadyside Western Pennsylvania Hospital UPMC Braddock The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Pittsburgh Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC Presbyterian Magee-Womens Hospital UPMC Mercy UPMC Southside Allegheny General Hospital Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh North Shore Alle-Kiski Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital McKeesport UPMC McKeesport UPMC Passavant Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh North Campus Jefferson Regional Medical Center Ohio Valley General Hospital St Clair Hospital Westmoreland Excela Health Hospital at Jeannette Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital UPMC Passavant Cranberry Mayview State Hospital Southwood Psychiatric Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley Westmoreland Regional Hospital Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh Monongahela Valley Hospital Butler Memorial Hospital Canonsburg General Hospital ACMH Hospital Butler VA Medical Center Latrobe Area Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Greensburg Frick Hospital Kindred Hospital at Heritage Valley Medical Center of Beaver Torrance State Hospital The Washington Hospital Ellwood City 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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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
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Colon Polyps
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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
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