Melanosis Coli Center - Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica 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 Monica * Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine  UCLA Santa Monica Specialists  UCLA Santa Monica Specialists  UCLA Santa Monica Specialists  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  N Robert Elson MD  Hertz Frankel Katkov Wishingrad & Lam MDs  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Hertz Frankel Katkov Wishingrad & Lam MDs  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Hertz Frankel Katkov Wishingrad & Lam MDs  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Sean C Lai MD  Hertz Frankel Katkov Wishingrad & Lam MDs  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Shahrad Shamsi MD  Hertz Frankel Katkov Wishingrad & Lam MDs  Doctor House Call  Robert Y Uyeda MD  Nicholas Karyotakis MD  Marvin Derezin MD  Marvin Derezin MD  UCLA Medical Group Gastroenterology  Capsule Endoscopy Services UCLA  Kirsten Tillisch MD  Federal Medical Clinic  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  Payman?Khorrami MD  Herbert R Kornfeld MD  Rahbar Medical Group  Century City Endoscopy  Mitchell J Spirt MD  Paul Key MD  Robert A Gross MD  Glenn Pasternack MD  West Gastroenterology Associates  Daniel Lahana MD  Soraya A Ross MD  Sadler Medical Group  West Gastroenterology Associates  West Gastroenterology Associates  West Gastroenterology Associates  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD  West Gastroenterology Associates  Carey Strom MD  John D Romm MD & Howard Pitchon MD  Dr Marc A Edelstein  Drs Cynamon & Feldman  Drs Cynamon & Feldman  Cedar Sinai Medical Center  Harry A Cynamon MD  Mark Davidson MD  Joel D Feinstein MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Donald R Henderson MD  Joseph Loewy MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Jeffrey H Sherman MD  Jeffrey H Sherman MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Gastroenterology  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Gastroenterology  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Gastroenterology  Said Rahban MD  Robert Richter MD  California Pancreatic Biliary Institute  California Pancreatic Biliary Institute  Medical Group Of Encino  Efrat Z Lobel MD APC Female Gastroenterologist  Star Weight Control  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  Coast Gastroenterology  Coast Gastroenterology  Coast Gastroenterology Santa Monica, CaliforniaUpcoming 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 Santa Monica
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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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