Melanosis Coli Center - Stratford, CT
Stratford 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 Stratford * Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  David M Chess MD  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  GI Health Specialists  GI Health Specialists  GI Health Specialists  GI Health Specialists  GI Health Specialists  GI Health Specialists  Fairfield County Internal Medicine & GI Associates  Fairfield County Internal Medicine & GI Associates  Fairfield County Internal Medicine & GI Associates  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Tarun K Gupta MD LLC  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine of Orange  Gastroenterology Specialists PC  Gastroenterology Specialists PC  Gastroenterology Specialists PC  Gastroenterology Specialists PC  Gastroenterology Center of New England  Gastroenterology of New Haven LLC  Gastroenterology of New Haven LLC  Yale Medical Group Digestive Diseases  Yale Medical Group Digestive Diseases  Yale Medical Group Digestive Diseases  Yale Medical Group Digestive Diseases  Yale Medical Group Digestive Diseases  Yale Medical Group Digestive Diseases  Melchinger Street Rosenthal & Breier MD  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Digestive Disease Associates  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Digestive Disease Associates  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Yale Medical Group Digestive Diseases  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Connecticut Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Digestive Disease Associates  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine Westport  Digestive Disease Center  Gerald Fette MD  Southbury Medical Associates  Naugatuck Valley Gastroenterology Consultants  Norwalk Medical Group PC  Norwalk Medical Group PC  William B Hale MD  Dennis Meighan DO  Beacon Falls Medical Associates  Beacon Falls Medical Associates  Arbor Medical Group LLC  Broadway Medical Group LLC  Digestive Disease Associates  Soundview Medical Associates  Soundview Medical Associates  Soundview Medical Associates  Naugatuck Valley Gastroenterology Consultants  Naugatuck Valley Gastroenterology Consultants  Naugatuck Valley Gastroenterology Consultants  Eduardo G Mari MD  Shoreline Medical LLP  Digestive Disease Center Connecticut  Digestive Disease Center Connecticut  Digestive Disease Center Connecticut  David Delucia & Hector Pun MDs  Ronald A Zlotoff MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Danbury Hospital Gastroenterology  Danbury Hospital Gastroenterology  Danbury Hospital Gastroenterology  Danbury Hospital Gastroenterology  Danbury Hospital Gastroenterology  Danbury Hospital Gastroenterology  Danbury Hospital Gastroenterology  Fiedler & Kapel MDs  Stephen W Kingsley MD  Fiedler & Kapel MDs Stratford, ConnecticutUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 Stratford
Nearby Stratford Hospitals *Bridgeport Hospital Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center Milford Hospital St Vincent's Medical Center Griffin Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services Hospital of St Raphael Connecticut Mental Health Center Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital Yale-New Haven Hospital Norwalk Hospital Silver Hill Hospital St Charles Hospital John T Mather Memorial Hospital Stony Brook University Medical Center Danbury Hospital Northport VA Medical Center Gaylord Hospital Masonic Healthcare Center St Catherine of Siena Medical Center Stamford Hospital St Mary's Hospital Waterbury Hospital Four Winds Hospital Huntington Hospital Greenwich Hospital Pilgrim Psychiatric Center The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus MidState Medical Center New Milford Hospital Peconic Bay Medical Center Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center Putnam Hospital Center Northern Westchester Hospital Center Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center Southside Hospital Rye Hospital Center Syosset Hospital St Vincent's Hospital Westchester Glen Cove Hospital Bristol Hospital Plainview Hospital New York Presbyterian Westchester The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital White Plains 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
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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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