Melanosis Coli Center - Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring * Bernard A Heckman MD  V P Chandar MD PA  Maryland Digestive Disease Center  Steven A Burger MD  Maryland Digestive Disease Center  Maryland Digestive Disease Center  Maryland Digestive Disease Center  Maryland Digestive Disease Center  Kempanna Sudhakar MD  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Capital Gastroenterology Consultants PA  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Washington Gastroenterology  Robynne K Chutkan MD  Washington Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  T Jake Liang MD  Digestive Disease Branch  Montgomery Gastroenterology  Montgomery Gastroenterology  Montgomery Gastroenterology  Ajay Bakshi MD  Digestive Disease Clinic  Sanford Richman MD  Gary M Roggin MD  MONTROSE PEDIATRIC GI  Ghulam Mohiuddin MD  Ghulam Mohiuddin MD  Asghar Shaigany MD  Cohen & Epstein MDs  Cohen & Epstein MDs  James S Chesley Jr. MD  Rockville Internal Medical Group  S Grace Woo MD LLC  A O Moshyedi MD  A O Moshyedi MD  Mushtaq A Shah MD  Maximo Singer MD  Montgomery Internal Medicine Associates PA  Marc Kozam MD  Arthur Schoengold MD  Maryland Digestive Disease Center  Maryland Digestive Disease Center  Jatinder Sekhon MD  Vincent Sutliff MD  Redjaee & Taleghani MDs  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Drs Stern & Gantt  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Neil L Julie MD  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Elizabeth R Myles MD  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Drs Stern & Gantt  Healthcare of Greater Washington  Boo K Kim MD  McCone Endoscopy Centers  T Ann Tonnu MD  Birns Gloger & Witten MD PC  Birns Gloger & Witten MD PC  Ghanshyam Gupta MD  Birns Gloger & Witten MD PC  John Bedeau MD & David Gorray MD  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Largo  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Largo  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Largo  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Largo  Sam Tellawi MD  Digestive Disease Associates  GI Associates of Maryland  Digestive Disease Associates  GI Associates of Maryland  Megan Willard MD  Gastro Center of Maryland  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Chandrakant K Bhatia MD  Wondwosen Abdi MD  Aly Sabet MD Silver Spring, MarylandUpcoming 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 Silver Spring
Nearby Silver Spring Hospitals *Holy Cross Hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital National Institutes of Health Providence Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington The HSC Pediatric Center National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center Children's National Medical Center Suburban Hospital Howard University Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital Georgetown University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington Doctors Community Hospital Virginia Hospital Center United Medical Center Laurel Regional Hospital Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Dominion Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Inova Alexandria Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Howard County General Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Reston Hospital Center Fort Washington Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Baltimore Washington Medical Center Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Spring Grove Hospital Center Anne Arundel Medical Center Saint Agnes Hospital Kernan Hospital Springfield Hospital Center Harbor Hospital Center Northwest Hospital Potomac Hospital Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Prince William Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Baltimore VA Medical Center University of Maryland Medical Center University Specialty Hospital Maryland General Hospital Mercy Medical Center Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins Hospital Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Union Memorial Hospital Civista Medical Center Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland Sheppard Pratt Health System Greater Baltimore Medical Center St Joseph Medical 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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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
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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
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