Melanosis Coli Center - Sterling, VA
Sterling 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 Sterling * Sanjeev Wasan MD  Ryan P Crenshaw MD  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Colon, Stomach & Liver Center  Colon, Stomach & Liver Center  Robert D Lafsky MD & Nadeem A Khan MD  Robert D Lafsky MD & Nadeem A Khan MD  Vinod K Rustgi MD  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  Gastroenterology Assoc PLLC  Kok S Lee MD PC  Rajeshwar Singh Kadian MD  Lance Lasner MD  Richard C Ranard MD & Lucy S Beck MD  Richard C Ranard MD & Lucy S Beck MD  Howard Heit MD  Carol Schuffler MD  Ronald E Gurney MD  Ram Nimmagadda MD  Mc Lean Neuroscience  Northern Virginia Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Center of Northern Virginia  Gastroenterology Center of Northern Virginia  Gastroenterology Center of Northern Virginia  Gastroenterology Center of Northern Virginia  Northern Virginia Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Center of Northern Virginia  Associates In Gastroenterology  Associates In Gastroenterology  Associates In Gastroenterology  Associates In Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Virginia Gastroenterology  Bayani L Manalo MD  Han Ton-That MD  Mu K Hong MD  Gil Ascunce MD  Leonardo Mendez MD  Ramesh Desai MD  Internal Medicine Associates of Northern Virginia  Internal Medicine Associates of Northern Virginia  Kaiser Permanente  Digestive Disease Physicians PC  Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates  Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates  Digestive Disease Physicians PC  Digestive Disease Physicians PC  Digestive Disease Physicians PC  Digestive Health  Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates  Michael Mogadam MD  Digestive Health  Robert A Nussbaum MD  Aly Sabet MD  Houshang Makipour MD  Paul I Miller MD  M Hossein Razavi MD  Tobin S Naidorf MD  Tanya Davis-Spaulding MD  A Bruce Shauer MD  Myriam Urrutia-Eder MD  McCone Endoscopy Centers  Center Virginia Surgical Center  Center Virginia Surgical Center  Fall Hill Gastroenterology Associates MAHA  Fall Hill Gastroenterology Associates MAHA  Fall Hill Gastroenterology Associates MAHA  Pratt Medical Center Specialty Care  Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg  Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg  Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg  Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg  Winchester Gastroenterology Associates  Winchester Gastroenterology Associates  Winchester Gastroenterology Associates  Winchester Gastroenterology Associates  Winchester Gastroenterology Associates  Blue Ridge Gastroenterology  Samuel Pasternack MD  John Michaels MD  Horace J Jackson MD  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc Sterling, VirginiaUpcoming 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 Sterling
Nearby Sterling Hospitals *Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Reston Hospital Center Inova Fair Oaks Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Suburban Hospital National Institutes of Health Sibley Memorial Hospital Dominion Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Psychiatric Institute of Washington Prince William Hospital Georgetown University Hospital Holy Cross Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center The George Washington University Hospital Inova Alexandria Hospital Washington Adventist Hospital Howard University Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington Hospital Center Children's National Medical Center Washington DC VA Medical Center Providence Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington Saint Elizabeth's Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Frederick Memorial Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center United Medical Center Laurel Regional Hospital Potomac Hospital Doctors Community Hospital Jefferson Memorial Hospital Howard County General Hospital Fort Washington Hospital Fauquier Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Springfield Hospital 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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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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