Melanosis Coli Center - Schenectady, NY
Schenectady 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 Schenectady * Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Bernard L Meyers MD  Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates  Yogesh Gupta MD  Albany Area Gastroenterology  Capital District Gastroenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  AMC Gastorenterology  Northeast Gastroenterology & Hepatology  Gastroenterology and Psychiatry  Asma Arif MD  Richard Eglow MD PC  Luz M Alvarez MD PC  Hamid A Rehman MD  Kamini Ramani MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Jeff I Monkash MD  Hudson Valley Gastroenterology  Mark R Feldman MD  Hudson Valley Gastroenterology  Grand Street Medical Associates  Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute  Bassett Healthcare Digestive Diseases  Bassett Healthcare Digestive Diseases  Bassett Healthcare Digestive Diseases  Bassett Healthcare Digestive Diseases  Bassett Healthcare Digestive Diseases  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Greenwich Village Gastroenterology  Slocum Dickson Medical Group PLLC  Mid Hudson Medical Group  Mid Hudson Medical Group  Digestive Disease Center of the Hudson Valley  Mount Kisco Medical Group PC  Digestive Disease Center of the Hudson Valley  Hudson Valley Gastroenterology Assoc  Hudson Valley Gastroenterology Assoc  Hudson Valley Gastroenterology Assoc  Hudson Valley Gastroenterology Assoc  Ferndale Adult Health  Crystal Run HealthCare LLP  Crystal Run HealthCare LLP  Crystal Run HealthCare LLP  Crystal Run HealthCare LLP  Slocum Dickson Medical Group PLLC  Digestive Disease Medicine Of Central NY  Digestive Disease Medicine Of Central NY  Digestive Disease Medicine Of Central NY  Digestive Disease Medicine Of Central NY  Digestive Disease Medicine Of Central NY  Digestive Disease Medicine Of Central NY  Digestive Disease Medicine Of Central NY  Dr Nicholas G Bambino  Sullivan Internal Medicine  John E Knipp MD  Mount Kisco Medical Group PC  Mount Kisco Medical Group PC  Mount Kisco Medical Group PC  Crystal Run HealthCare LLP  Crystal Run HealthCare LLP  Teitel & Lin MDs  Teitel & Lin MDs  Middletown Medical  Horizon Family Medicine  Horizon Family Medicine Schenectady, New YorkUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
2012-06-16
2012-06-16
2012-08-18
2012-09-01
2012-09-08
2012-10-20
2012-11-04
2012-11-11
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 Schenectady
Nearby Schenectady Hospitals *Ellis Hospital Ellis Hospital McClellan Campus Sunnyview Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Bellevue Woman's Hospital St Peter's Hospital Albany Memorial Hospital Capital District Psychiatric Center Albany Medical Center Stratton VA Medical Center at Albany Albany Medical Center South Clinical Campus St Mary's Hospital Troy Amsterdam Memorial Healthcare Samaritan Hospital St Mary's Hospital Amsterdam Four Winds Hospital Saratoga Saratoga Hospital Nathan Littauer Hospital Cobleskill Regional 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. |
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
