Melanosis Coli Center - Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz * Gordon E Lee MD  Monterey Bay Gastroenterology  Monterey Bay Gastroenterology  Monterey Bay Gastroenterology  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Bayview Gastroenterology  Frederick Chen MD  Albert J Crevello MD  Ayer & Davilla MDs  Michael C Kushlan MD  Marwan A Balaa MD  San Jose Medical Group  Terry C Lin DO  San Jose Medical Group  David E Stein MD FACG  Barbara Hom MD  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  David W Chui MD  Farr & Farr MD  Alfred L Hurwitz MD  Jagjit S Raju MD  Felix K Tam MD  Robert F Bronstone MD  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  El Camino GI Medical  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  El Camino GI Medical  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Andrew Lipton MD  Kennedy Christian & Rice MDs  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Rasik Kansara MD  Sally Nacianceno & Rose Palma MDs  Sudin Vittal MD  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  Palo Alto Veterans Hospital GI Endoscopy  Palo Alto Veterans Hospital GI Endoscopy  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey County Surgical Associates  Kevin Stuart MD  Kevin Stuart MD  Medical Specialties Clinic  Rita Y Lee MD  David S Shields MD  Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Gastroenterology Department  Susie M Liu MD  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  Harvey S Young MD  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Menlo Medical Clinic  Menlo Medical Clinic  Betty M Ho MD  Scott D Levenson MD  Scott D Levenson MD  Mission Primary Care  Shakir Hyder MD  Washington Township Medical Group  Kenneth A Kelsen MD  Fremont Medical Group  San Mateo County General Hospital  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Edward K Onuma & Eugene Y Lee MDs  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Michael Mainardi M.D. Inc.  Edward K Onuma & Eugene Y Lee MDs  Ernest Ribera MD  Marna M Skaar MD  Gastroenterology Consultants of The Peninsula  Gastroenterology Consultants of The Peninsula Santa Cruz, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-23
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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 Santa Cruz
Nearby Santa Cruz Hospitals *Dominican Hospital Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Watsonville Community Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital Mission Oaks Good Samaritan Hospital San Jose El Camino Hospital of Los Gatos Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center Santa Clara Valley Medical Center O'Connor Hospital Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center Saint Louise Regional Hospital El Camino Hospital Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Medical Center of San Jose Natividad Medical Center VA Palo Alto Health Care System Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System Stanford Hospital & Clinics Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Menlo Park Surgical 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
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Laxatives for Constipation
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Colon Cancer Prevention
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