Melanosis Coli Center - Simi Valley, CA
Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley * Mysore R Nagaraja MD  Moe Amadpour MD  R Chitayat MD & Calin Arimie MD  R Chitayat MD & Calin Arimie MD  Valley Gastro Group  Paul O Gulsrud MD  Valley Gastro Group  Valley Gastro Group  Valley Gastro Group  Hector Cabellero MD  Sharam Daneshgar MD  Gregory Johnson MD  Paul D Sanders MD  Advanced Gastroenterology Inc  Bonaventure Eng MD  Steven A Kind MD  Santa Clarita Gastroenterology  Santa Clarita Gastroenterology  Drs Fagen Hepps & Madievsky  Drs Fagen Hepps & Madievsky  Drs Fagen Hepps & Madievsky  Gustavo A Machicado MD  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Richard K Gordon MD  Piyush Jogani MD  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Gustavo A Machicado MD  Digestive Health Consultants  Mark F Tsai MD  Richard D Garrett MD  Facey Medical Group Valencia II  Valencia Gastroenterology Inc  Valencia Gastroenterology Inc  Maria S Umali MD  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Gourdji & Jacobs MDs  Gourdji & Jacobs MDs  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Marcos B Fleiderman MD  Carl I Blau MD  Facey Medical Foundation Mission Hills  HeathCare Partners Medical Group  Federal Medical Clinic  Efrat Z Lobel MD APC Female Gastroenterologist  Star Weight Control  Drs Buch & Shiffman  Nagaraj M Chetty MD  Gnana Desigan MD  Drs Buch & Shiffman  Medical Group Of Encino  Ventura County Gastroenterology Medical Group Inc  Ventura County Gastroenterology Medical Group Inc  Ventura County Gastroenterology Medical Group Inc  Ventura County Gastroenterology Medical Group Inc  Ventura County Gastroenterology Medical Group Inc  Doctor House Call  Serra Community Medical Clinic  Marvin Derezin MD  Marvin Derezin MD  UCLA Medical Group Gastroenterology  Capsule Endoscopy Services UCLA  Kirsten Tillisch MD  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  UCLA Santa Monica Specialists  Southern California Medical Gastroenterology Group  N Robert Elson MD  UCLA Santa Monica Specialists  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  UCLA Santa Monica Specialists  Hertz Frankel Katkov Wishingrad & Lam MDs  Nicholas Karyotakis MD  Robert Y Uyeda MD  Payman?Khorrami MD  Herbert R Kornfeld MD Simi Valley, 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 Simi Valley
Nearby Simi Valley Hospitals *Simi Valley Hospital West Hills Hospital & Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center Motion Picture & Television Hospital Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center Northridge Hospital Medical Center Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Tarzana Regional Medical Center Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Olive View UCLA Medical Center Mission Community Hospital Encino Hospital Medical Center Valley Presbyterian Hospital Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center Hollywood Community Hospital of Van Nuys St John's Pleasant Valley Hospital Sherman Oaks Hospital Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center St John's Regional Medical Center Miracle Mile Medical Center Brotman Medical Center Olympia Medical Center Hollywood Community Hospital Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center Marina Del Rey Hospital VA Greater Los Angeles HealthCare System Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Kindred Hospital Los Angeles Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Temple Community Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Verdugo Hills Hospital Glendale Adventist Medical Center St Vincent Medical Center Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center Good Samaritan Hospital Ventura County Medical Center Barlow Respiratory Hospital Community Memorial Hospital California Hospital Medical Center Orthopaedic Medical Center Kaiser Mental Health Center Pacific Alliance Medical Center Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center Centinela Campus Aurora Vista Del Mar Hospital Ojai Valley Community Hospital White Memorial Medical Center USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center LAC + USC Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital USC University Hospital Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Hawthorne Campus Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Huntington Hospital Community Hospital of Huntington Park 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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