Melanosis Coli Center - Reading, PA
Reading 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 Reading * Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Glenn S Freed DO  Pottsville Internist Associates  Richard C Hawley MD  Integrated Medical Group PC Gastroenterology  Integrated Medical Group PC Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Gateway Medical Internal Medicine  Good Sameritan Gastro Interology Assoc.  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Tomasz J Niewiarowski MD  Edward C Chen MD  Solga Gastroenterology  Solga Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Montgomery County GI Specialists Reading, 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 Reading
Nearby Reading Hospitals *The Reading Hospital & Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Reading Rehabilitation Hospital St Joseph Medical Center Wernersville State Hospital Ephrata Community Hospital Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Brandywine Hospital Coatesville VA Medical Center Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lebanon VA Medical Center Saint John Vianney Hospital The Good Samaritan Hospital KidsPeace Children's Hospital Phoenixville Hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest Schuylkill Medicall Center South Jackson Street Schuylkill Medical Center East Norwegian Street Lancaster General Hospital Philhaven Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital St Luke's Hospital Allentown Campus Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital Malvern Institute Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th & Chew Streets Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Allentown Eagleville Hospital Paoli Hospital The Chester County Hospital Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital LifeCare Hospitals of Chester County Sacred Heart Hospital St Luke's Quakertown Hospital Devereux Beneto Children's Behavioral Health Center Grand View Hospital Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital Allentown State Hospital Montgomery County Emergency Service St Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital Norristown State Hospital St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem Campus Westfield Hospital Montgomery Hospital Good Shepherd Home Bethlehem Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg Center 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
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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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