Melanosis Coli Center - Racine, WI
Racine 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 Racine * GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  All Saints Healthcare Gastroenterology  All Saints Healthcare Gastroenterology  GI Associates LLC  All Saints Healthcare Gastroenterology  GI Associates LLC  All Saints Healthcare Gastroenterology  All Saints Healthcare Gastroenterology  Kenosha Medical Center Clinic Digestive Disease Consultants  Kenosha Medical Center Clinic Digestive Disease Consultants  Kenosha Medical Center Clinic Digestive Disease Consultants  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  Metro Physicians Group Milwaukee  Milwaukee Digestive Disease Consultants  Milwaukee Digestive Disease Consultants  Milwaukee Digestive Disease Consultants  GI Associates  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  Milwaukee Digestive Disease Consultants  Milwaukee Digestive Disease Consultants  Milwaukee Digestive Disease Consultants  Milwaukee Digestive Disease Consultants  Madison Medical Affiliates  Madison Medical Affiliates  Madison Medical Affiliates  Madison Medical Affiliates  Digestive Disease Specialists  MedPoint Family Care Center  Digestive Disease Specialists  Prospect Medical Commons  Madison Medical Affiliates  Advanced Healthcare High Pointe  Advanced Healthcare High Pointe  Medical College of Wisconsin  Medical College of Wisconsin  Medical College of Wisconsin  Froedtert & Medical College Clinic  Medical College of Wisconsin  Medical College of Wisconsin  Medical College of Wisconsin  Medical College of Wisconsin  Medicine Associates  Medical College of Wisconsin  Medical College of Wisconsin  Froedtert & Medical College Clinic  Thomas Slota MD  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  GI Associates LLC  Center for Stomach & Intestinal Health  C MM Sundaram MD  Advanced Healthcare Good Hope Clinic  Advanced Healthcare Good Hope Clinic  Advanced Healthcare Brookfield  G I Specialists SC  Aurora Health Center Burlington Gastroenterology  Aurora Health Center Burlington Gastroenterology  Aurora Health Center Burlington Gastroenterology  Aurora Health Center Burlington Gastroenterology  Aurora Health Center Burlington Gastroenterology  Aurora Health Center Burlington Gastroenterology  Medical Associates Multi Specialty Clinics  Medical Associates Multi Specialty Clinics  Medical Associates Multi Specialty Clinics  G I Specialists SC  G I Specialists SC  G I Specialists SC  G I Specialists SC  G I Specialists SC  Madison Medical Affiliates  Madison Medical Affiliates  Madison Medical Affiliates  Advanced Healthcare Cedar Creek  Aurora Health Center  West Bend Clinic  West Bend Clinic  Aurora Health Care Sheboygan Clinic  Aurora Health Care Sheboygan Clinic  Beloit Clinic SC  Beloit Clinic SC  Fon Du Lac Gastroenterology  Fon Du Lac Gastroenterology  Fon Du Lac Gastroenterology  Mercy Health Systems Beloit Medical Center  Riverview Dean Clinic  Aurora Manitowoc Clinic  Woodland Clinic  Woodland Clinic  Woodland Clinic Racine, WisconsinUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
2012-06-02
2012-06-02
2012-06-24
2012-07-12
2012-08-02
2012-08-23
2012-09-23
2012-10-07
2012-11-11
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 Racine
Nearby Racine Hospitals *All Saints St Luke's Memorial Hospital All Saints St Mary's Medical Center Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Kenosha United Hospital System Kenosha Medical Center Campus United Hospital System St Catherine's Campus Aurora Medical Center Aurora St Luke's South Shore Midwestern Regional Medical Center Lakeview Specialty Hospital & Rehabilitation Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare St Francis Aurora St Luke's Medical Center Kindred Hospital Milwaukee Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Milwaukee West Allis Memorial Hospital Aurora Sinai Medical Center Rogers Memorial Hospital Columbia St Mary's Milwaukee Campus Vista Medical Center East Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital Aurora Psychiatric Hospital The Wisconsin Heart Hospital Columbia St Mary's Columbia Campus Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Vista Medical Center West Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare St Joseph Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington North Chicago VA Medical Center Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Elmbrook Memorial Waukesha Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Hospital of Wisconsin Community Memorial Hospital Lake Forest Hospital Condell Medical Center Aurora Lakeland Medical Center LifeCare Hospitals of Wisconsin 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. |
Suggested Reading on Melanosis Coli by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
6 articles-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Colon Cancer
-
Medications
2 articles -
Procedures & Tests
3 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
0 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
3 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
