Melanosis Coli Center - Taunton, MA
Taunton 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 Taunton * Gastrointestinal Specialists  Gastrointestinal Specialists  Gastrointestinal Specialists  Gastrointestinal Specialists  Robert A Sepersky MD  Signature Healthcare Bridgewater Goddard Park Medical Associates  Truesdale Clinic Southcoast Physicians Services  Truesdale Clinic Southcoast Physicians Services  Hawthorn Medical Associates  Hawthorn Medical Associates  Hawthorn Medical Associates  Hawthorn Medical Associates  Prima Care Gastroenterology PC  Prima Care Gastroenterology PC  Sidney W Rosen MD  Prima Care Gastroenterology PC  Prima Care Gastroenterology PC  Prima Care Gastroenterology PC  Signature Healthcare Bridgewater Goddard Park Medical Associates  Signature Healthcare Bridgewater Goddard Park Medical Associates  Signature Healthcare Bridgewater Goddard Park Medical Associates  Hawthorn Medical Associates  Hawthorn Medical Associates  Rheumatology & Gastroenterology Associates  Rheumatology & Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists  Rheumatology & Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists  Caritas Medical Practice Corp  Attleboro Gastroenterology  Attleboro Gastroenterology  Attleboro Gastroenterology  Attleboro Gastroenterology  Southcoast Physicians Services  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  Harbor Medical  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Harbor Medical & Associates  Harbor Medical & Associates  Robert F Kelliher MD  Mohammad Farivar MD  Southwestern Gastroenterological Associates PC  Associates In Internal Medicine  Granite Medical Group  Granite Medical Group  Arthur J Esswein MD  Plymouth Carver Primary Care PC  George L Barrett MD  South Shore Internal Medicine  South Shore Internal Medicine  Eric Cohen MD  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates  Van Ritter MD  Thomas J Kenney Jr. MD Inc  Thomas J Kenney Jr. MD Inc  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury  Pham Medical Associates  Gastroenterology Associates at Faulkner  Gastroenterology Associates at Faulkner  Gastroenterology Associates at Faulkner  Gastroenterology Associates at Faulkner  Gastroenterology Associates at Faulkner  Gastroenterology Associates at Faulkner  Gastroenterology Associates at Faulkner  Harvard Vanguard Gastroenterology  VA Boston Healthcare System  VA Boston Healthcare System  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Boston University Medical Group  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  BMC Gastroenterology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Blackwell Medical Associates  Blackwell Medical Associates  BMC Gastroenterology  Blackwell Medical Associates  BMC Gastroenterology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Boston University Medical Group  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Liver Center  Beth Israel Deaconess Gastroenterology Taunton, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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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
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Nearby Taunton Hospitals *Morton Hospital & Medical Center Taunton State Hospital New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital Charlton Memorial Hospital Saint Anne's Hospital Sturdy Memorial Hospital Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton St Luke's Hospital Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Arbour-Fuller Hospital Bradley Hospital Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Butler Hospital Tobey Hospital The Miriam Hospital Hasbro Children's Hospital Rhode Island Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island Southern New England Rehabilitation Center St Joseph Health Services Providence VA Medical Center Roger Williams Medical Center New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Our Lady of Fatima Hospital Jordan Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Pembroke Hospital Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center South Shore Hospital Massachusetts Hospital School Kent Hospital Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital Caritas Norwood Hospital Landmark Medical Center Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island Westwood Lodge Hospital Milton Hospital Newport Hospital Quincy Medical Center Falmouth Hospital Caritas Carney Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape & Islands Massachusetts Mental Health Center Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Bournewood Hospital Faulkner Hospital Milford Regional Medical Center Arbour Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital New England Baptist Hospital Boston Medical Center Brigham & Women's Hospital Children's Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Tufts New England Medical Center Kindred Hospital Boston Arbour HRI Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children 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
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Constipation
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Colon Polyps
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Laxatives for Constipation
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Colon Cancer Prevention
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