Melanosis Coli Center - South San Francisco, CA
South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco * Lawrence B Lusk MD  Dennis L Hamby MD  Digestive Disease Medical Group  Digestive Disease Medical Group  Digestive Disease Medical Group  Digestive Disease Medical Group  Digestive Disease Medical Group  Robert H Kubin MD  Kenneth T Roost MD  Gastroenterology Consultants of The Peninsula  Gastroenterology Consultants of The Peninsula  Robert J Elsen MD  SFGH Medicine & Gastroenterology Clinic  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Gastroenterology  Dean L Rider MD  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  H David Watts MD  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  Sunset Health Services  Michael Mainardi M.D. Inc.  Ernest Ribera MD  Marna M Skaar MD  Edward K Onuma & Eugene Y Lee MDs  Edward K Onuma & Eugene Y Lee MDs  Frank J Farrell MD  California Pacific Medical Center Department of Gastroenterology  Womens Health Care Clinic  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF The Comprehensive Cancer Center  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCSF Medical Center Gastroenterology  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  Malin Aubry Gores Wang Haddad & Sankaran  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  Dennis Shen MD  Frank S Yang MD  Pacific Heights Medical Group  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  Interventional Endoscopy Services  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Daniel Conlin MD  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  PACIFIC INTERNAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATES  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  Interventional Endoscopy Services  California Pacific Medical Center Gastroenterology  John C Fletcher MD & William Parmer MD Inc  US & International Medicine Wing K King MD  DR, MARTIN S. LIBERMAN  Doctors Office  Stephen C Pardys MD  Doctors Office  Doctors Office  Patrick Y Wong MD  VA Hospital  UCSF VA Medical Center  San Mateo County General Hospital  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Scott D Levenson MD  Scott D Levenson MD  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Alameda County Medical Center  Alameda County Medical Center Highland Hospital Campus  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Betty M Ho MD  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay South San Francisco, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 South San Francisco
Nearby South San Francisco Hospitals *Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center Seton Medical Center Mills-Peninsula Health Services St Luke's Hospital Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center San Francisco General Hospital UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus Mills Hospital St Mary's Medical Center Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion Saint Francis Memorial Hospital California Pacific Medical Center California Campus California Pacific Medical Center East Campus California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus Chinese Hospital San Francisco VA Medical Center Seton Medical Center Coastside San Mateo Medical Center Alameda Hospital Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland Sequoia Hospital San Leandro Hospital Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus Alameda County Medical Center Fairmont Campus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus John George Psychiatric Pavilion Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center St Rose Hospital Eden Medical Center Menlo Park Surgical Hospital Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford Hospital & Clinics Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo Marin General Hospital Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital VA Palo Alto Health Care System Washington Hospital Fremont Hospital Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center San Ramon Regional Medical Center El Camino Hospital John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus ValleyCare Health System Pleasanton VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez Contra Costa Regional Medical Center John Muir Behavioral Health Center John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus Novato Community Hospital Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Sutter Solano Medical Center Valley Memorial Hospital O'Connor 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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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
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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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Colon Cancer
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